Pd/Ag nanosheet as a plasmonic sensing platform for sensitive assessment of hydrogen evolution reaction in colloid solutions

A nanoplasmonic hydrogen-sensing system based on palladium/silver nanosheets （Pd/Ag NSs） was developed and used for sensitive assessment of the hydrogen evolution reaction （HER） in colloid solutions. As a model HER system, the semiconductor CdS/CdSe core/shell quantum dot （QD）-based hydrogen-producing colloidal system was used, and the HER performances of QDs with two different surface coatings were assessed in this study. In the sensing system, the photocatalytically generated hydrogen reacts with Pd/Ag NSs, resulting in a gradual red-shift of localized surface plasmon resonance, which to a certain degree is almost linearly proportional to the amount of hydrogen generated. Such a nanoplasmonic hydrogen sensing platform would be useful as an alternative for optical assessment and fast selection of a highly efficient and cost-effective solar hydrogen generation system for practical applications.

Novel closed-cycle reaction mode for totally green production of Cu_(1.8)Se nanoparticles based on laser-generated Se colloidal solution

Non-stoichiometric copper selenide(Cu_(2-x)Se,x=0.18~0.25)nanomaterials have attracted extensive attentions due to their excellent thermoelectric,optoelectronic and photocatalytic performances.However,efficient production of Cu_(2-x)Se nanoparticles(NPs)through a green and convenient way is still hindered by the inevitable non-environmentally friendly operations in common chemical synthesis.Herein,we initially reveal the coexistence of seleninic acid content and elemental selenium(Se)NPs in pulsed laser-generated Se colloidal solution.Consequently,we put forward firstly a closedcycle reaction mode for totally green production of Cu_(1.8)Se NPs to exclude traditional requirements of high temperature and toxic precursors by using Se colloidal solution.In such closed-cycle reaction,seleninic acid works as the initiator to oxidize copper sheet to release cuprous ions which can catalyze the disproportion of Se NPs to form Se O_(3)^(2-)and Se^(2-)ions and further produce Cu_(2-x)Se NPs,and the by-product SeO_(3)^(2-)ions promote subsequent formation of cuprous from the excessive Cu sheet.In experiments,the adequate copper(Cu)sheet was simply dipped into such Se colloidal solution at 70℃,and then the stream of Cu_(1.8)SeNPs could be produced until the exhaustion of selenium source.The conversion rate of Se element reaches to more than 75%when the size of Se NPs in weakly acidic colloidal solution is limited between 1 nm and 50 nm.The laser irradiation duration shows negative correlation with the size of Se NPs and unobvious impact to the p H of the solution which both are essential to the high yield of Cu_(1.8)SeNPs.Before Cu sheet is exhausted,Se colloidal solution can be successively added without influences to the product quality and the Se conversion rate.Such green methodology positively showcases a brand-new and potential strategy for mass production of Cu_(2-x)Se nanomaterials.

Investigation of Influence of Magnetic Nanoparticles on the Quality-Factor of the Oscillatory Circuit

In this study, author investigated the spectral response of EM （electromagnetic） energy absorption in a colloidal system of Fe3O4 nanoparticles with an average size of 9.50 nm immersed in a 2% aqueous solution of SDS （sodium dodeci[ sulfate）. The temperature of the nanoparticles and the SDS solution was evaluated by a novel method based on measuring the Q-factor （quality-factor） of a resonant circuit. The Q-factor of the investigated system as a function of the frequency of the EM field was obtained. The nanoparticles-SDS liquid system exhibited a resonance-like behavior of the absorption, where the resonance frequency was about 170 MHz, and the absorption rise up to the resonance frequency was rather slow. The observed absorption of EM energy was accompanied by a small temperature increasing of the system. Measurements of the ESR （electron spin resonance） spectrum of the Fe3O4 nanoparticles have presented a slightly asymmetric singlet with the proportionality factor g = 2 and a line-width of the magnetic field strength △H = 0.1 mT. It was shown that the observed absorption spectrum corresponds to paramagnetic behavior of the investigated nanoparticles.

Tunable order in colloids of hard magnetic hexaferrite nanoplatelets

Structural ordering in the concentrated magnetic colloids containing 50×5 nm hard magnetic disc-like SrFe_(12)O_(19) nanoparticles was investigated by cryogenic scanning electron microscopy,optical microscopy,magnetic measurements,and small-angle X-ray scattering.It was revealed that macroscopically homogeneous magnetic liquid consists of dynamic threads of stacked nanoparticles.The threads align into quasiperiodic arrays with the distances between individual threads of a few micrometers.They also can form pseudodomain structures with -90°domain boundaries realized through T-type thread interconnects.The effects of magnetic attraction and electrostatic repulsion on the equilibrium interplatelet distance in the threads were studied.It was demonstrated that this distance can be tuned by the control of the particles charge and electric double layer screening from Stern layer thickness(-1 nm)to tens of nanometers.It was shown that the permanent magnetic field is not able to cause any structural changes in the ordered magnetic liquid phase,while alternating field draws particles apart by their vibrations.External variation of interparticle distance up to 6%was achieved using an alternating magnetic field of low intensity.Experimental data were complemented by the theoretical models of screened electrostatic interactions between spherical and platelike magnetic particles.The last model provides good predictive power and correlates with the experimental data.The stabilization energy of the condensed phase in the order of 1-10 kBT was derived from the model.An approach allows controlling of an equilibrium interparticle distance and interparticle distance distribution by adjusting the magnetization and surface charge of the particles as well as the ionic strength of the solvent.