Laser‑Induced and MOF‑Derived Metal Oxide/Carbon Composite for Synergistically Improved Ethanol Sensing at Room temperature

Advancements in sensor technology have significantly enhanced atmospheric monitoring.Notably,metal oxide and carbon(MO_(x)/C)hybrids have gained attention for their exceptional sensitivity and room-temperature sensing performance.However,previous methods of synthesizing MO_(x)/C composites suffer from problems,including inhomogeneity,aggregation,and challenges in micropatterning.Herein,we introduce a refined method that employs a metal–organic framework(MOF)as a precursor combined with direct laser writing.The inherent structure of MOFs ensures a uniform distribution of metal ions and organic linkers,yielding homogeneous MO_(x)/C structures.The laser processing facilitates precise micropatterning(<2μm,comparable to typical photolithography)of the MO_(x)/C crystals.The optimized MOF-derived MO_(x)/C sensor rapidly detected ethanol gas even at room temperature(105 and 18 s for response and recovery,respectively),with a broad range of sensing performance from 170 to 3,400 ppm and a high response value of up to 3,500%.Additionally,this sensor exhibited enhanced stability and thermal resilience compared to previous MOF-based counterparts.This research opens up promising avenues for practical applications in MOF-derived sensing devices.

One-pot Synthesis of MoO_(3)/PI Composite with Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance for Oxidative Coupling of Amines to Imines

Organic-inorganic MoO_(3)/PI(MoPI)composites were prepared using a simple one-pot thermal copolymerization method.The resulting composites exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity for the selective oxidation of benzylamine to N-benzylidene benzylamine(N-BDBA)in ambient air under simulated solar light irradiation compared to pristine MoO_(3) or polyimide(PI).In particular,the MoPI composite with a 0.3:1 molar ratio of Mo to melamine,referred to as MoPI-0.3,demonstrated the best performance in the photo-oxidation of benzylamine,achieving a benzylamine conversion of 95%with a N-BDBA selectivity exceeding 99%after 3 h irradiation.The enhanced photocatalytic activity of the MoPI-0.3 catalyst was attributed to the formation of a direct Z-scheme heterojunction between MoO_(3) and PI,facilitating more efficient separation of the photoinduced electrons and holes.Additionally,the MoPI-0.3 composite maintained considerably high activity over four consecutive cycles,highlighting its good stability and recyclability.Furthermore,the MoPI-0.3 composite could photo-oxidize benzylamine derivatives and heterocyclic amines to their corresponding imines,demonstrating the universal applicability of this composite catalyst.

Bonding enhancement of cold rolling TA1 P-Ti/AA6061 composite plates via surface oxidation treatment

TA1 P-Ti/AA6061 composite plate was produced by oxidizing the surface of the titanium plate and adopting a cold roll bonding process.The results revealed that the oxide film(Ti6O)prepared on the surface of TA1 pure titanium was easy to crack during the cold roll bonding,thereby promoting the formation of an effective mechanical interlock at the interface,which can effectively reduce the minimum reduction rate of the composite plates produced by cold rolling of titanium and aluminium plates.Moreover,the composite plate subjected to oxidation treatment exhibited high shear strength,particularly at a 43%reduction rate,achieving a commendable value of 117 MPa.Based on oxidation treatment and different reduction rates,the annealed composite plates at temperatures of 400,450,and 500°C displayed favorable resistance to interface delamination,highlighting their remarkable strength-plasticity compatibility as evidenced by a maximum elongation of 31.845%.

Study on the oxidation mechanism of Al-SiC composite at elevated temperature

Resin-bonded Al-SiC composite was sintered at 1100,1300,and 1500℃ in the air,the oxidation mechanism was investigated.The reaction models were also established.The oxidation resistance of the Al-SiC composite was significantly enhanced with temperature increase.SiC in the exterior of the composite was partially oxidized slightly,while the transformation of metastable Al_(4)C_(3) to stable Al_(4)SiC_(4) existed in the interior.At 1100℃,Al in the interior reacted with residual C to form Al_(4)C_(3).With increasing to 1300℃,high temperature and low oxygen partial pressure lead to active oxidation of SiC,and internal gas composition transforms to Al_(2)O(g)+CO(g)+SiO(g)as the reaction proceeds.After Al_(4)C_(3) is formed,CO(g)and SiO(g)are continuously deposited on its surface,transforming to Al_(4)SiC_(4).At 1500℃,a dense layer consisting of SiC and Al_(4)SiC_(4) whiskers is formed which cuts off the diffusion channel of oxygen.The active oxidation of SiC is accelerated,enabling more gas to participate in the synthesis of Al_(4)SiC_(4),eventually forming hexagonal lamellar Al_(4)SiC_(4) with mutual accumulation between SiC particles.Introducing Al enhances the oxidation resistance of SiC.In addition,the in situ generated non-oxide is uniformly dispersed on a micro-scale and bonds SiC stably.

Li^+ extraction/adsorption properties of Li-Sb-Mn composite oxides in aqueous medium

Series Li-Sb-Mn composite oxides with different Sb/Mn molar ratios were obtained by solid state reaction.Their structure,morphology and Li^＋ extraction/adsorption properties were characterized by X-ray diffractometry （XRD）,scanning electron microscopy （SEM） and atomic absorption spectrophotometry （AAS）,respectively.XRD and SEM analyses reveal that the crystal of the products transfers from spinel to orthorhombic phase with the increase of molar ratio of Sb to Mn from 0.05 to 1.00.The Li^＋ extraction and adsorption experiments for these Li-Sb-Mn composite oxides demonstrate that the composite oxides can all be used as lithium inorganic adsorbents.The acid treated spinel Li-Sb-Mn composite oxide with Sb/Mn molar ratio of 0.05 has a high Li^＋ adsorption capacity of 33.23mg/g in lithium solution.The Sb/Mn molar ratio of these Li-Sb-Mn composite oxides should be a crucial factor in determining their structure and Li^＋ extraction and adsorption properties.

Catalytic performance of Ag/Co-Ce composite oxides during soot combustion in O_2 and NO_x:Insights into the effects of silver

The composite oxides xAg/Co_（0.93）Ce_（0.07）（x=Ag/（Co＋Ce） molar ratio）,intended for use as high performance catalytic materials,were successfully prepared via citric acid complexation.The effects of silver on the performance of these substances during soot combustion were subsequently investigated.Under O_2,the 0.3Ag/Co_（0.93）Ce_（0.07） catalyst resulted in the lowest ignition temperature,T_（10）,of197 ℃,while the minimum light-off temperature was obtained from both 0.2Ag/Co_（0.93）Ce_（0.07） and0.3Ag/Co_（0.93）Ce_（0.07） in the NO_x atmosphere.These materials were also characterized by various techniques,including H_2,soot and NO_x temperature programmed reduction,X-ray diffraction,and electron paramagnetic resonance,Raman,X-ray photoelectron,and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analyses.The results demonstrated that silver significantly alters the catalytic behavior under both O_2 and NO_x,even though the lattice structure of the mixed oxide is not affected.Surface silver oxides generated under the O_2 atmosphere favor soot combustion by participating in the redox cycles between soot and the silver oxide,whereas the AgNO_3 that forms in a NO_x-rich atmosphere facilitates soot abatement at a lower temperature.The inferior activity of AgNO_3 relative to that of Ag_2O results in the different catalytic performance in the presence of NO_x or O_2.

An effective strategy of constructing multi-metallic oxides of ZnO/ CoNiO_(2)/CoO/C microflowers for improved supercapacitive performance

In this work,a new ZnO/CoNiO_(2)/CoO/C metal oxides composite is prepared by cost-effective hydrothermal method coupled with annealing process under N_(2) atmosphere.Notably,the oxidation-defect annealing environment is conducive to both morphology and component of the composite,which flower-like ZnO/CoNiO_(2)/CoO/C is obtained.Benefited from good chemical stability of ZnO,high energy capacity of CoNiO_(2) and CoO and good conductivity of C,the as-prepared sample shows promising electrochemical behavior,including the specific capacity of 1435 C·g^(-1) at 1 A·g^(-1),capacity retention of 87.3%at 20 A·g^(-1),and cycling stability of 90.5%for 3000 cycles at 5 A·g^(-1),respectively.Furthermore,the prepared ZnO/CoNiO_(2)/CoO/C/NF//AC aqueous hybrid supercapacitors device delivers the best specific energy of 55.9 W·h·kg^(-1) at 850 W·kg^(-1).The results reflect that the as-prepared ZnO/CoNiO_(2)/CoO/C microflowers are considered as high performance electrode materials for supercapacitor,and the strategy mentioned in this paper is benefit to prepare mixed metal oxides composite for energy conversion and storage.

Effects of dietary Clostridium butyricum and rumen protected fat on meat quality,oxidative stability,and chemical composition of finishing goats

Background Clostridium butyricum(CB)is a probiotic that can regulate intestinal microbial composition and improve meat quality.Rumen protected fat(RPF)has been shown to increase the dietary energy density and provide essential fatty acids.However,it is still unknown whether dietary supplementation with CB and RPF exerts beneficial effects on growth performance and nutritional value of goat meat.This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary CB and RPF supplementation on growth performance,meat quality,oxidative stability,and meat nutritional value of finishing goats.Thirty-two goats(initial body weight,20.5±0.82 kg)were used in a completely randomized block design with a 2 RPF supplementation(0 vs.30 g/d)×2 CB supplementation(0 vs.1.0 g/d)factorial treatment arrangement.The experiment included a 14-d adaptation and 70-d data and sample collection period.The goats were fed a diet consisted of 400 g/kg peanut seedling and 600 g/kg corn-based concentrate(dry matter basis).Result Interaction between CB and RPF was rarely observed on the variables measured,except that shear force was reduced(P<0.05)by adding CB or RPF alone or their combination;the increased intramuscular fat(IMF)content with adding RPF was more pronounced(P<0.05)with CB than without CB addition.The pH24h(P=0.009),a*values(P=0.007),total antioxidant capacity(P=0.050),glutathione peroxidase activities(P=0.006),concentrations of 18:3(P<0.001),20:5(P=0.003)and total polyunsaturated fatty acids(P=0.048)were increased,whereas the L*values(P<0.001),shear force(P=0.050)and malondialdehyde content(P=0.044)were decreased by adding CB.Furthermore,CB supplementation increased essential amino acid(P=0.027),flavor amino acid(P=0.010)and total amino acid contents(P=0.024)as well as upregulated the expression of lipoprotein lipase(P=0.034)and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorγ(PPARγ)(P=0.012),and downregulated the expression of stearoyl-CoA desaturase(SCD)(P=0.034).The RPF supplementation increased dry matter intake(P=0.005),averaged daily gain(trend,P=0.058),hot carcass weight(P=0.046),backfat thickness(P=0.006),concentrations of 16:0(P<0.001)and c9-18:1(P=0.002),and decreased the shear force(P<0.001),isoleucine(P=0.049)and lysine content(P=0.003)of meat.In addition,the expressions of acetyl-CoA carboxylase(P=0.003),fatty acid synthase(P=0.038),SCD(P<0.001)and PPARγ(P=0.022)were upregulated due to RPF supplementation,resulting in higher(P<0.001)content of IMF.Conclusions CB and RPF could be fed to goats for improving the growth performance,carcass traits and meat quality,and promote fat deposition by upregulating the expression of lipogenic genes of Longissimus thoracis muscle.

Comparative investigation of microstructure and high-temperature oxidation resistance of high-velocity oxy-fuel sprayed CoNiCrAlY/nano-Al_(2)O_(3) composite coatings using satellited powders

Satellited CoNiCrAlY–Al_(2)O_(3)feedstocks with 2wt%, 4wt%, and 6wt% oxide nanoparticles and pure CoNiCrAlY powder were deposited by the high-velocity oxy fuel process on an Inconel738 superalloy substrate. The oxidation test was performed at 1050℃ for 5, 50, 100,150, 200, and 400 h. The microstructure and phase composition of powders and coatings were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, respectively. The bonding strength of the coatings was also evaluated. The results proved that with the increase in the percentage of nanoparticles(from 2wt% to 6wt%), the amount of porosity(from 1vol% to 4.7vol%), unmelted particles, and roughness of the coatings(from 4.8 to 8.8 μm) increased, and the bonding strength decreased from 71 to 48 MPa. The thicknesses of the thermally grown oxide layer of pure and composite coatings(2wt%, 4wt%, and 6wt%) after 400 h oxidation were measured as 6.5, 5.5, 7.6, and 8.1 μm, respectively.The CoNiCrAlY–2wt% Al_(2)O_(3)coating showed the highest oxidation resistance due to the diffusion barrier effect of well-dispersed nanoparticles. The CoNiCrAlY–6wt% Al_(2)O_(3)coating had the lowest oxidation resistance due to its rough surface morphology and porous microstructure.

Investigation of Microstructure and Phase Composition of Chromic Oxide, AZS/Cr and High-alumina Refractories after Exposure of Basalt and Aluminaboronsilicate Glasses Melts

The microstructure and phase composition of high-alumina,chromic oxide,and AZS/Cr refractories containing 30%and 60%(by mass)Cr_(2)O_(3) after exposure to aluminaboronsilicate glasses and basalt melts depending on the type of melts and temperature have been studied.The mechanisms of refractory corrosion by the used melts and the factors contributing to the inhibition of corrosion development have been investigated by the method of petrographic analysis.On the basis of obtained results,the use of high-alumina,chromic oxide,and AZS/Cr refractories in the sections of glass furnace linings,experiencing the intensive impact of aluminaboronsilicate glasses and basalt melts,has been confirmed and scientifically substantiated.

Laminar Composite Solid Electrolyte with Poly(Ethylene Oxide)-Threaded Metal-Organic Framework Nanosheets for High-Performance All-Solid-State Lithium Battery

Developing laminar composite solid electrolyte with ultrathin thickness and continuous conduction channels in vertical direction holds great promise for all-solid-state lithium batteries.Herein,a thin,laminar solid electrolyte is synthesized by filtrating–NH 2 functionalized metal-organic framework nanosheets and then being threaded with poly(ethylene oxide)chains induced by the hydrogen-bonding interaction from–NH_(2) groups.It is demonstrated that the threaded poly(ethylene oxide)chains lock the adjacent metal-organic framework nanosheets,giving highly enhanced structural stability(Young’s modulus,1.3 GPa)to 7.5-μm-thick laminar composite solid electrolyte.Importantly,these poly(ethylene oxide)chains with stretching structure serve as continuous conduction pathways along the chains in pores.It makes the non-conduction laminar metal-organic framework electrolyte highly conductive:3.97×10^(−5) S cm^(−1) at 25℃,which is even over 25 times higher than that of pure poly(ethylene oxide)electrolyte.The assembled lithium cell,thus,acquires superior cycling stability,initial discharge capacity(148 mAh g^(−1) at 0.5 C and 60℃),and retention(94% after 150 cycles).Besides,the pore size of nanosheet is tailored(24.5–40.9˚A)to evaluate the mechanisms of chain conformation and ion transport in confined space.It shows that the confined pore only with proper size could facilitate the stretching of poly(ethylene oxide)chains,and meanwhile inhibit their disorder degree.Specifically,the pore size of 33.8˚A shows optimized confinement effect with trans-poly(ethylene oxide)and cis-poly(ethylene oxide)conformation,which offers great significance in ion conduction.Our design of poly(ethylene oxide)-threaded architecture provides a platform and paves a way to the rational design of next-generation high-performance porous electrolytes.

Oxidation behavior of Ti_(0.2)Zr_(0.2)Hf_(0.2)Nb_(0.2)Ta_(0.2)C-M_(x)C(M=Ti,Zr,Hf,Nb,Ta) composite ceramic at high temperature

Ti_(0.2)Zr_(0.2)Hf_(0.2)Nb_(0.2)Ta_(0.2)C-M_(t)C composite ceramic was prepared by hot press sintering,with the Ti_(0.2)Zr_(0.2)Hf_(0.2)Nb_(0.2)Ta_(0.2)C high-entropy carbide as the main phase.Secondary phase M_(x)C(M=Ti,Zr,Hf,Nb,Ta) was found to be distributed relatively uniform in the composite ceramic.The oxidation behavior of the ceramic was examined after exposure to 923 K and 1173 K.Morphology of the surface and cross sections of all oxidation samples were observed.The characteristics of the oxidation behavior of the high-entropy carbide and the secondary phase M_(x)C were compared and analyzed.The secondary phases(such as Ti-rich carbide or Hf-rich carbide) in the material were seriously oxidized at 923 K and 1173 K,which reflects the superior oxidation performance of the high-entropy carbide.The nano high-entropy oxides with Ti,Zr,Hf,Nb,Ta,and O elements were discovered by oxidation of the composite ceramic.This research will help deepen the understanding of the oxidation mechanism of high-entropy carbide and composite ceramic.

Oxidation mechanism of high-volume fraction SiCp/Al composite under laser irradiation and subsequent machining

Conventional mechanical machining of a composite material comprising an aluminum matrix reinforced with a high volume fraction of SiC particles(hereinafter referred to as an SiCp/Al composite)faces problems such as rapid tool wear,high specific cutting force,and poor surface integrity.Instead,a promising method for solving these problems is laser-induced oxidation-assisted milling(LOAM):under laser irradiation,the local workpiece material reacts with oxygen,thus forming loose and porous oxides that are easily removed.In the present work,the oxidation mechanism of SiCp/Al irradiated by a nanosecond pulsed laser is studied to better understand the laser-induced oxidation behavior and control the characteristics of the oxides,with laser irradiation experiments performed on a 65%SiCp/Al composite with various laser parameters and auxiliary gases(oxygen,nitrogen,and argon).With increasing laser pulse energy density,both the ablated groove depth and the width of the heat-affected zone increase.When oxygen is used as the auxiliary gas,an oxide layer composed of SiO_(2)and Al2O3 forms,and CO_(2)is produced and escapes from the material,thereby forming pores in the oxides.However,when nitrogen or argon is used as the auxiliary gas,a recast layer is produced that is relatively difficult to remove.Under laser irradiation,the sputtered material reacts with oxygen to form oxides on both sides of the ablated groove,and as the laser scanning path advances,the produced oxides accumulate to form an oxide layer.LOAM and conventional milling are compared using the same milling parameters,and LOAM is found to be better for reduced milling force and tool wear and improved machined surface quality.

Boosted urea electro-oxidation over Ni_(3)N-based nanocomposite via systematic regulation tactic

Exploiting high-efficiency Ni-based materials for electrocatalytic urea oxidation reaction(UOR) is critical for urea-related technologies.The catalytic site density,intrinsic activity,charge transfer,and mass diffusion determine overall electrocatalytic efficiency.Simultaneous modulation over the above four factors promises advanced electrocatalysis,yet challenging.Herein we propose a systematic regulation tactic over composition and geometric structure,constructing a nanocomposite comprising Mn doped Ni_(3)N nanoparticles anchored on reduced graphene oxide(rGO/Mn-Ni_(3)N),achieving elegant integration of four design principles into one,thereby eminently boosting UOR.Particularly,Mn doping in Ni_(3)N can modulate electronic state to induce intrinsic activity regulation.Combining metallic Mn-Ni_(3)N with rGO to engineer hierarchical architecture not only promotes charge transfer,but also enriches active site population.Intriguingly,improved hydrophilicity could impart better electrolyte penetration and gas escape.Consequently,such system-optimized rGO/Mn-Ni_(3)N demonstrates state-of-the-art-level UOR electrocatalysis.This work offers a novel paradigm to create advanced catalysts via systematic and integrated modulation.

Corrosion behavior of composite coatings containing hydroxyapatite particles on Mg alloys by plasma electrolytic oxidation: A review

Mg and its alloys have been introduced as promising biodegradable materials for biomedical implant applications due to their excellent biocompatibility, mechanical behavior, and biodegradability. However, their susceptibility to rapid corrosion within the body poses a significant challenge and restricts their applications. To overcome this issue, various surface modification techniques have been developed to enhance the corrosion resistance and bioactivity of Mg-based implants. PEO is a potent technique for producing an oxide film on a surface that significantly minimizes the tendency to corrode. However, the inevitable defects due to discharges and poor biological activity during the coating process remain a concern. Therefore, adding suitable particles during the coating process is a suitable solution. Hydroxyapatite(HAp)has attracted much attention in the development of biomedical applications in the scientific community. HAp shows excellent biocompatibility due to its similarity in chemical composition to the mineral portion of bone. Therefore, its combination with Mg-based implants through PEO has shown significant improvements in their corrosion resistance and bioactivity. This review paper provides a comprehensive overview of the recent advances in the preparation, characterization, corrosion behavior and bioactivity applications of HAp particles on Mg-based implants by PEO.

Plasma treated M1 MoVNbTeO_(x)-CeO_(2) composite catalyst for improved performance of oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane

High activity and productivity of MoVNbTeO_(x) catalyst are challenging tasks in oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane(ODHE)for industrial application.In this work,phase-pure M1 with 30 wt%CeO_(2) composite catalyst was treated by oxygen plasma to further enhance catalyst performance.The results show that the oxygen vacancies generated by the solid-state redox reaction between M1 and CeO_(2) capture active oxygen species in gas and transform V^(4+)to V^(5+)without damage to M1 structure.The space-time yield of ethylene of the plasma-treated catalyst was significantly increased,in which the catalyst shows an enhancement near~100% than that of phase-pure M1 at 400℃ for ODHE process.Plasma treatment for catalysts demonstrates an effective way to convert electrical energy into chemical energy in catalyst materials.Energy conversion is achieved by using the catalyst as a medium.

Oxidation and Electrical Properties of Cu-Mn_(3)O_(4)Composite Coating Obtained by Electrodeposition on SOFC Interconnects

Cu-Mn_(3)O_(4)composite coating was prepared on the SUS 430 ferritic stainless steel by electrodeposition and then exposed in air at 800℃corresponding to the cathode atmosphere of solid oxide fuel cell(SOFC).A dual-layer oxide structure mainly comprising an external layer of CuO followed by(Cu,Mn,Fe)_(3)O_(4)spinel and an internal layer of Cr-rich oxide was thermally developed on the coated steel.The scale area-specific resistances(ASRs)of the coated steels were lower than the scale ASR of the uncoated steel after identical thermal exposure.The external layer of CuO/(Cu,Mn,Fe)_(3)O_(4)spinel not only served as a barrier to reduce the growth rate of Cr-rich oxide internal layer and to suppress the outward diffusion of Cr,but also lowered the surface scale ASRs considerably.

Higher alcohol synthesis over Cu-Fe composite oxides with high selectivity to C_(2+)OH

Cu-Fe composite oxides were prepared by co-precipitation method and tested for higher alcohol synthesis from syngas. The selectivity to C2＋OH and C6＋OH in alcohol distribution was very high while the methane product fraction in hydrocarbon distribution was rather low, demonstrating a promising potential in higher alcohols synthesis from syngas. The distribution of alcohols and hydrocarbons approximately obeyed Anderson-Schulz-Flory distribution with similar chain growth probability, indicating alcohols and hydrocarbons derived from the same intermediates. The effects of Cu/Fe molar ratio, reaction temperature and gas hourly space velocity （GHSV） on catalytic performance were studied in detail. The sample with a Cu/Fe molar ratio of 10/1 exhibited the best catalytic performance. Higher reaction temperature accelerated water-gas-shift reaction and led to lower total alcohols selectivity. GHSV showed great effect on catalytic performance and higher GHSV increased the total alcohol selectivity, indicating there existed visible dehydration reaction of alcohol into hydrocarbon.

Effect of mixed rare earth oxides and CaCO_3 modification on the microstructure of an in-situ Mg_2Si/Al-Si composite

The effects of mixed rare earth oxides and CaCO3 on the microstructure of an in-situ Mg2Si/Al-Si hypereutectic alloy composite were investigated by optical microscope,scanning electron microscope,and energy dispersive spectrum analysis. The results showed that the morphol-ogy of the primary Mg2Si phase particles changed from irregular or crosses to polygonal shape,their sizes decreased from 75 μm to about 25 μm,and the compound of both the oxide and CaCO3 was better than either the single mixed rare earth o...

Solvothermal synthesis and characterization of nanocrystalline vanadium-chromium composite oxides and catalytic ammoxidation of 2,6-dichlorotoluene

Vanadium‐chromium oxides(VCrO)were usually prepared by high‐temperature solid‐state reactions;however,mixed phases were frequently produced and the morphology of the products was not well controlled.In this work,we prepared amorphous VCrO precursors by using V2O5 and CrO3 and alcohols or mixtures of alcohol and water via solvothermal reaction at 180°C.The precursors were then calcined under nitrogen at various temperatures.The products were characterized by powder X‐ray diffraction,transmission electron microscopy,and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy.It was revealed that pure‐phase nanocrystalline orthorhombic CrVO4 was obtained when methanol or methanol/water was used as the solvothermal medium and the precursor was calcined at 700°C.The size of the CrVO4 crystals was around 500 nm when methanol was used,whereas it reduced significantly to less than 50 nm when a mixture of methanol and water was used.The sizes could be effectively tuned from 10 to 50 nm by varying the methanol/water volume ratio.To the best of our knowledge,this is the first report on the synthesis of pure‐phase CrVO4 nanocrystals.The nano‐CrVO4 showed almost the highest catalytic activity for the ammoxidation of 2,6‐dichlorotoluene to 2,6‐dichlorobenzonitrile among the reported bi‐component composite oxides,owing to its smaller particle size,larger specific surface area,and more exposed active centers.