Real-time observation of template-assisted colloidal aggregation and colloidal dispersion under an alternating electric field

A fascinating colloid phenomenon was observed in a specially designed template-assisted cell under an alternating electrical field. Most colloidal particles experienced the processes of aggregation, dispersion and climbing up to the plateaus of the patterns pre-lithographed on the indium tin oxide glass as the frequency of the alternating electrical field increased. Two critical frequencies fcritl ≈ 15 kHz and fcrit2 ≈ 40 kHz, corresponding to the transitions of the colloid behaviour were observed. When f 〈 15 kHz, the particles were forced to aggregate along the grooves of the negative photoresist patterned template. When 15 kHz 〈 f 〈 40 kHz, the particle clusters became unstable and most particles started to disperse and were blocked by the fringes of the negative photoresist patterns. As the frequency increased to above 40 kHz, the majority of particles started to climb up to the plateaus of the patterns. Furthermore, the dynamics analysis for the behaviour of the colloids was given and we found out that positive or negative dielectrophoresis force, electrohydrodynamic force, particle-particle interactions and Brownian motion change with the frequency of the alternating electric field. Thus, changes of the related forces affect or control the behaviour of the colloids.

Ferromagnetism in High-Surface-Area ZnO Nanosheets Prepared by a Template-Assisted Hydrothermal Method

High-surface-area ZnO nanosheets are prepared using a template-assisted hydrothermal method.A saturation moment as high as 0.02 emu/g is obtained for the ZnO nanosheets.Both photoluminescence spectroscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy demonstrate the existence of abundant oxygen vacancies on the surfaces of the nanosheets.In addition,the oxygen vacancy concentration increases with an increasing nanosheet surface area.The results show that the origin of the room-temperature ferromagnetism is closely related with a large surface area and oxygen vacancies of the nanosheets.This finding suggests that the high-surface-area ZnO nanosheets are promising to be applied to spintronic devices.

Controllable synthesis of a hollow Cr2O3 electrocatalyst for enhanced nitrogen reduction toward ammonia synthesis

As a fascinating alternative to the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process,the electrochemically-driven N_(2) reduction reaction(NRR)utilizing the N_(2) and H_(2)O for the production of NH3 has received enormous attention.The development and preparation of promising electrocatalysts are requisite to realize an efficient N_(2) conversion for NH3 production.In this research,we propose a template-assisted strategy to construct the hollow electrocatalyst with controllable morphology.As a paradigm,the hollow Cr_(2)O_(3) nanocatalyst with a uniform size(~170 nm),small cavity and ultrathin shell(~15 nm)is successfully fabricated with this strategy.This promising hollow structure is favourable to trap N_(2) into the cavity,provides abundant active sites to accelerate the three-phase interactions,and facilitates the reactant transfer across the shell.Attributed to these synergetic effects,the designed catalyst displays an outstanding behaviour in N_(2) fixation for NH3 production in ambient condition.In the neutral electrolyte of 0.1 mol·L^(-1) Na_(2)SO_(4),an impressive electrocatalytic performance with the NH3 generation rate of 2.72μg·h^(-1)·cm^(-2) and a high FE of 5.31%is acquired respectively at-0.85 V with the hollow Cr_(2)O_(3) catalyst.Inspired by this work,it is highly expected that this approach could be applied as a universal strategy and extended to fabricating other promising electrocatalysts for realizing highly efficient nitrogen reduction reaction(NRR).

Evolution of template-assisted two-dimensional porphyrin chiral grating structure by directed self-assembly using chiral second harmonic generation microscopy

Directed self-assembly has been used to create micro-nano scale patterns,including chiral periodic structures of organic molecules,for potential applications in optics,photonics,metamaterials,and medical and sensing technologies.This study presents a straightforward approach for fabricating large-scale chiral grating porphyrin assemblies through template-assisted techniques.The solution of tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin(TPPS)was induced by chiral amino acids(L/D-arginine and L/D-serine)to selfassemble into highly ordered chiral grating structures with the assistance of sodium dodecyl sulfate(SDS).The structures show precise line widths(5.5μm)and gaps(18μm).Using in situ optical microscopy and second harmonic generation(SHG)microscopy,the chiral characteristics and dynamic evolution of the template-assisted self-assembly are investigated.It is found that the chirality of amino acids induced TPPS self-assembled into chiral structures and the liquid contraction interface significantly enhanced the chirality of the assemblies.This study is significant for understanding the mechanism of chiral evolution and designing novel micro-nano materials with predetermined chiral properties.

Template-assisted formation of atomically dispersed iron anchoring on nitrogen-doped porous carbon matrix for efficient oxygen reduction

Isolated active metal atoms anchored on nitrogen-doped carbon matrix have been developed as the efficient catalyst for accelerating sluggish reaction kinetics of oxygen reduction reaction(ORR).The facile rational structure engineering with abundant isolated active metal atoms is highly desirable but challenging.Herein,we demonstrate that atomically dispersed Fe sites(Fe-N4 moieties)on the hierarchical porous nitrogen-doped carbon matrix(Fe-SA-PNC)for high ORR activity can be achieved by a dual-template assisted strategy.By thermal decomposition of NH_(4)Cl template,the nitrogen-doped carbon matrix is generated based on the interaction with carbon precursor of citric acid.Meanwhile,the introduction of NaCl template facilitates the formation of hierarchical porous structures,which enable more active sites exposed and improve the mass transfer.Interestingly,the dual-template strategy can inhibit the formation of iron carbide nanoparticles(NPs)by generating porous structures and avoiding of the rapid loss of nitrogen during pyrolysis.The as-made Fe-SA-PNC catalysts with well-defined Fe-N_(4)active sites exhibit highly efficient ORR activity with a half-wave potential of 0.838 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode,as well as good stability and methanol tolerance,outperforming the commercial Pt/C.The zinc-air battery(ZAB)constructed by Fe-SA-PNC also shows a higher peak power density and specific discharging capacity than that of Pt-based ZAB.The present work provides the facile strategy for tailoring nitrogen doping and porous structures simultaneously to prevent the formation NPs for achieving the well-dispersed and accessible single-atom active sites,paving a new way to design efficient electrocatalysts for ORR in fuel cells.

Ultralong and Mesoporous ZnO and γ-Al_2O_3 Oriented Nanowires Obtained by Template-assisted Hydrothermal Approach

Highly mesoporous Zn O and g-Al2O3nanowires（NWs） are both synthesized by a hydrothermal method using commercially available porous anodic aluminium oxide（AAO） as template. AAO membrane acts as template for Zn O NWs and both as template and precursor for g-Al2O3 NWs. The formation of intermediate phases of porous Zn6Al2（OH）16CO3and boehmite（g-Al OOH） were observed, both occurring during the hydrothermal synthesis of porous Zn O and g-Al2O3 NWs, respectively, and disappearing after annealing at 600 C. This novel template-assisted hydrothermal process leads to the formation of porous Zn O and g-Al2O3NWs（specific surface area of 192 m2 g 1and 263 m2 g 1, respectively）, showing pore sizes around 4 nm in diameter. The influence of the reaction parameters on the nanostructure morphology was also investigated. A Zn O seed layer, deposited on the AAO channels prior to the hydrothermal synthesis, leads to more compact Zn O nanowires（99 m2 g-1） protecting the AAO host from the chemical attack of the precursor solution.

Rational design of semiconductor metal oxide nanomaterials for gas sensing by template-assisted synthesis:a survey

Gas sensors have received extensive attention because of the gas pollution caused by rapid construction of urbanization and industrialization.Gas sensors based on semiconductor metal oxide(SMO)have the advantages of high response,excellent repeatability,stability,and cost-effectiveness,and have become extremely important components in the gas sensor field.Materials with regular structures and controllable morphology exhibit more consistent and repeatable performance.However,during the process of material synthesis,because of the uncontrollability of the microcosm,nanomaterials often show irregularities,unevenness,and other shortcomings.Thus,the synthesis of gas sensors with well-aligned one-dimensional(1D)structures,two-dimensional(2D)layered structures,and three-dimensional(3D)hierarchical structures has received extensive attention.To obtain regular structured nanomaterials with desired morphologies and dimensions,a template-assisted synthesis method with low cost and controllable process seems a very efficient strategy.In this review,we introduce the morphology and performance of SMO sensors with 1D,2D,and 3D structures,discuss the impact of a variety of morphologies on gas sensor performance(response and stability),and shed new light on the synthesis of gas sensing materials with stable structure and excellent performance.

Direct Synthesis of Ultrathin Crystalline Two-Dimensional Triazine Polymers from Aldoximes

The efficient synthesis of ultrathin crystalline twodimensional(2D)polymers with well-defined repeating units is essential to realize their broad applications but remains a great challenge.Herein,we report a new strategy to directly synthesize a series of few-layer 2D triazine-based polymers(2DTPs)via trimerization reaction of aromatic aldoximes in one step with a high yield of 85%using AlCl3 as catalyst under solvent-free conditions.The obtained 2D-TPs show high crystallinity,a lateral size of several micrometers,an ultrathin thickness less than 2 nm,and good dispersibility and processability.Through semi-in situ and detailed control experiments,we reveal that the 2D polymerization reaction is a two-step process of dehydration and then cyclotrimerization,and AlCl3 acts as not only catalyst but also an in situ generated template for promoting the formation of 2D-TPs.When explored as a new polymeric anode for potassium-ion batteries,the 2D-TP displayed an extraordinary reversible specific capacity of 356 mAh g^(−1)at 0.05 A g^(−1),which is among the best performances ever reported,outstanding rate capability(153 mAh g^(−1)at 1 A g^(−1)),and excellent cycling stability with 95.1%capacity retention after 1000 cycles at 1 A g^(−1).

Orientated-assembly of rod-like silica particles based on sandwich structure from the superhydrophobic template and the superhydrophilic substrates

The paper demonstrated a facile approach for the orientated assembly of the rod-like silica particles by sandwich structure from the combined effect of superhydrophobic template and the superhydrophilic substrates. The rod-like particles can be arranged in ring-like, square-like and etc from the confined effect of the template, which will produce an important insight for the oriented assembly ofanisotropic particles and the development of the novel functional materials and devices.

Fabrication of Two Types of Ordered InP Nanowire Arrays on a Single Anodic Aluminum Oxide Template and Its Application in Solar Cells

Two types of ordered InP nanowire arrays have been prepared on the same anodic aluminum oxide template by a template-assisted metallo-organic chemical vapor deposition technique.When using template with an appropriate pore size,free-standing wires on the template surface and highly ordered wires in the nanochannels of the same template can be simultaneously achieved.The highly ordered InP nanowire arrays in the nanochannels serve as an n-type semiconductor to assemble the p-n heterojunction solar cell with p-type Cu2O.Such a Cu2O/lnP p-n heterojunction solar cell possesses a power conversion efficiency of 1.55%.

Template‑Assisted Fabrication of Single‑Crystal‑Like Polymer Fibers for Efficient Charge Transport

Polymer semiconductors with highly crystalline forms,such as crystalline nanowires and fibers,are critical for charge carrier transport in organic field-effect transistors(OFET).However,the highly crystalline form usually requires high-quality molecular orderliness,which still remains a great challenge,especially in single fibers of extremely high-molecular-weight semiconducting polymers.In this study,we present an anodic aluminum oxide(AAO)template-assisted method to fabricate highly crystalline N-alkyl diketopyrrolopyrrole dithienylthieno[3,2-b]thiophene(DPP-DTT)single fibers.Grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction and selected area electron diffraction show obvious diffraction patterns for single-crystal-like characteristics,indicating the highly ordered molecular chains and highly crystalline structures of the single DPP-DTT fibers.OFET based on the single-crystal-like DPP-DTT fiber exhibits the highest charge carrier mobility of up to 14.2 cm^(2)V^(−1)s^(-1)and an average mobility of approximately 7.8 cm^(2)V^(−1)s^(-1),which is significantly improved compared with DPP-DTT thin film-based devices.Besides,the fiber-based OFET also exhibit a high light responsivity of 4.0.103 A W^(−1).This work demonstrates a facile and effective method for fabricating single-crystal-like fibers of high-molecular-weight polymer semiconductors and corresponding high-performance OFET devices.Furthermore,it also expands application of AAO template method for achieving crystalline semiconducting polymer fibers and provide a new perspective for the study on polymer crystallization.