Preparation of Nano-Co3O4 by Direct Thermal Decomposition of Cobalt(II) Nitrate Hexahydrate for Electrochemical Water Oxidation

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 154-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Ameen Ahmed Qasem ◽  
Md. Abdul Aziz ◽  
Abbas Saeed Hakeem ◽  
Sagheer A. Onaizi

Background: Nano-Co3O4 has been used in various technological areas and applications such as electrochemical sensors and electrochemical water splitting. Even though many efforts have been expended to prepare nano-Co3O4, the development of novel methods to prepare Co3O4 using simple processes and at low cost remain a topic of interest. Besides, it could be economic and useful if the synthesized nanoparticle could be applied as efficient electrocatalyst upon its immobilization on a cheap base electrode material by very simple method for various practical applications including renewable energy. Method: We prepared nano-Co3O4 by a direct thermal decomposition of an inexpensive, simple and widely available cobalt inorganic precursor, such as Co(NO3)2·6H2O without any type of prereaction or processing. The nano-Co3O4 was immobilized on filter-paper-derived carbon electrode by drop-drying method for applying as electrode materials toward water electrooxidation. Results: The X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy analysis confirmed the formation of short nanorods of single-phase Co3O4 upon thermal decomposition of Co(NO3)2·6H2O at 520°C. The electrocatalytic properties of the nano- Co3O4 were evaluated after immobilizing it on a cheap carbon electrode derived from normal filter paper. The modified electrode showed good electrocatalytic properties toward water oxidation in an alkaline solution. Conclusion: In conclusion, we developed a very simple, straight-forward and economic method for preparation of nano-Co3O4 and immobilized it on very cheap carbon electrode for evaluating its electrocatalytic properties. Due to the high electrocatalytic properties, the prepared nano-Co3O4 could potentially play an important role in various practical fields.

2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (9) ◽  
pp. 1707
Author(s):  
А.С. Камзин ◽  
H. Das ◽  
N. Wakiya ◽  
А.А. Валиуллин

AbstractMagnetic core/shell (CS) nanocomposites (MNCs) are synthesized using a simple method, in which a magnesium ferrite nanoparticle (MgFe_2O_4) is a core, and an amorphous silicon dioxide (silica SiO_2) layer is a shell. The composition, morphology, and structure of synthesized particles are studied using X-ray diffraction, field emission electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), scattering electrophoretic photometer, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Mössbauer spectroscopy. It is found that the MgFe_2O_4/SiO_2 MNC has the core/shell structure formed by the Fe‒O–Si chemical bond. After coating with silica, the MgFe_2O_4/SiO_2 MNC saturation magnetization significantly decreases in comparison with MgFe_2O_4 particles without a SiO_2 shell. Spherical particles agglomerated from MgFe_2O_4 nanocrystallites ∼9.6 and ∼11.5 nm in size function as cores coated with SiO_2 shells ∼30 and ∼50 nm thick, respectively. The total size of obtained CS MNCs is ∼200 and 300 nm, respectively. Synthesized CS MgFe_2O_4/SiO_2 MNCs are very promising for biomedical applications, due to the biological compatibility of silicon dioxide, its sizes, and the fact that the Curie temperature is in the region required for hyperthermal therapy, 320 K.


2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 394-398
Author(s):  
Li Bian ◽  
Meixia Li ◽  
Yiwei Lian ◽  
Yongjing Hao ◽  
Juan Xie

Purpose This paper aims to report a novel preparation method of ZnO particles with different structures and their photocatalytic activity. Design/methodology/approach ZnO powders are prepared by a facile, economical and environment-friendly aqueous solution route. X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra are used to characterize the products. Photocatalytic activity of the samples is evaluated by degradation of organic pollutant pentachlorophenol under UV-vis irradiation. Findings It is found that three-dimensional ZnO hierarchical structures can be prepared via aqueous solution route without using any template or structure-directing agent, and the alkalinity of reaction solution is the key factor. All the as-prepared ZnO products have good catalytic activity under UV-vis light irradiation. Originality/value This report presents a simple method for the preparation of ZnO particles with excellent photocatalytic activity. Experimental results could provide useful reference for the treatment of chlorophenols in the future.


Author(s):  
Linda M. Sicko ◽  
Thomas E. Jensen

The use of critical point drying is rapidly becoming a popular method of preparing biological samples for scanning electron microscopy. The procedure is rapid, and produces consistent results with a variety of samples. The preservation of surface details is much greater than that of air drying, and the procedure is less complicated than that of freeze drying. This paper will present results comparing conventional air-drying of plant specimens to critical point drying, both of fixed and unfixed material. The preservation of delicate structures which are easily damaged in processing and the use of filter paper as a vehicle for drying will be discussed.


Author(s):  
William J. Baxter

In this form of electron microscopy, photoelectrons emitted from a metal by ultraviolet radiation are accelerated and imaged onto a fluorescent screen by conventional electron optics. image contrast is determined by spatial variations in the intensity of the photoemission. The dominant source of contrast is due to changes in the photoelectric work function, between surfaces of different crystalline orientation, or different chemical composition. Topographical variations produce a relatively weak contrast due to shadowing and edge effects.Since the photoelectrons originate from the surface layers (e.g. ∼5-10 nm for metals), photoelectron microscopy is surface sensitive. Thus to see the microstructure of a metal the thin layer (∼3 nm) of surface oxide must be removed, either by ion bombardment or by thermal decomposition in the vacuum of the microscope.


Author(s):  
D.R. Hill ◽  
J.R. McCurry ◽  
L.P. Elliott ◽  
G. Howard

Germination of Euonymous americanus in the laboratory has previously been unsuccessful. Ability to germinate Euonymous americanus. commonly known as the american strawberry bush, is important in that it represents a valuable food source for the white-tailed deer. Utilizing the knowledge that its seeds spend a period of time in the rumin fluid of deer during their dormant stage, we were successful in initiating germination. After a three month drying period, the seeds were placed in 25 ml of buffered rumin fluid, pH 8 at 40°C for 48 hrs anaerobically. They were then allowed to dry at room temperature for 24 hrs, placed on moistened filter paper and enclosed within an environmental chamber. Approximately four weeks later germination was detected and verified by scanning electron microscopy; light microscopy provided inadequate resolution. An important point to note in this procedure is that scarification, which was thought to be vital for germination, proved to be unnecessary for successful germination to occur. It is believed that germination was propagated by the secretion of enzymes or prescence of acids produced by microorganisms found in the rumin fluid since sterilized rumin failed to bring about germination.


2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 1466-1470 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rituparna Chatterjee ◽  
Subhajit Saha ◽  
Karamjyoti Panigrahi ◽  
Uttam Kumar Ghorai ◽  
Gopes Chandra Das ◽  
...  

AbstractIn this work, strongly blue emitting Ce3+-activated BaAl2O4 nanophosphors were successfully synthesized by a sol–gel technique. The crystal structure, morphology, and microstructure of the nanophosphors have been studied by X-ray powder diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The photoluminescence spectra show the impact of concentration variation of Ce3+ on the photoluminescence emission of the phosphor. These nanophosphors display intense blue emission peaking at 422 nm generated by the Ce3+ 5d → 4f transition under 350 nm excitation. Our results reveal that this nanophosphor has the capability to take part in the emergent domain of solid-state lighting and field-emission display devices.


2013 ◽  
Vol 770 ◽  
pp. 68-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Supphadate Sujinnapram ◽  
Uraiphorn Termsuk ◽  
Atcharawan Charoentam ◽  
Sutthipoj Sutthana

The nanocrystalline ZnO powders were synthesized by a direct thermal decomposition using zinc nitrate hexahydrate as starting materials. The precursor was characterized by TG-DTA to determine the thermal decomposition and crystallization temperature which was found to be at 325 oC. The precursors were calcined at different temperatures of 400, 500, and 600°C for 4 h. The structure of the prepared samples was studied by XRD, confirming the formation of wurtzite structure. The synthesized powders exhibited the UV absorption below 400 nm (3.10 eV) with a well defined absorption peak at around 285 nm (4.35 eV). The estimated direct bandgaps were obtained to be 3.19, 3.16, and 3.14 eV for the ZnO samples thermally decomposed at 400, 500, and 600°C, respectively.


Crystals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1131
Author(s):  
Maricela Santana ◽  
Gonzalo Montoya ◽  
Raúl Herrera ◽  
Lía Hoz ◽  
Enrique Romo ◽  
...  

Dental cementum contains unique molecules that regulate the mineralization process in vitro and in vivo, such as cementum protein 1 (CEMP1). This protein possesses amino acid sequence motifs like the human recombinant CEMP1 with biological activity. This novel cementum protein 1-derived peptide (CEMP1-p3, from the CEMP1’s N-terminal domain: (QPLPKGCAAVKAEVGIPAPH), consists of 20 amino acids. Hydroxyapatite (HA) crystals could be obtained through the combination of the amorphous precursor phase and macromolecules such as proteins and peptides. We used a simple method to synthesize peptide/hydroxyapatite nanocomposites using OCP and CEMP1-p3. The characterization of the crystals through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), high--resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and Raman spectroscopy revealed that CEMP1-p3 transformed OCP into hydroxyapatite (HA) under constant ionic strength and in a buffered solution. CEMP1-p3 binds and highly adsorbs to OCP and is a potent growth stimulator of OCP crystals. CEMP1-p3 fosters the transformation of OCP into HA crystals with crystalline planes (300) and (004) that correspond to the cell of hexagonal HA. Octacalcium phosphate crystals treated with CEMP1-p3 grown in simulated physiological buffer acquired hexagonal arrangement corresponding to HA. These findings provide new insights into the potential application of CEMP1-p3 on possible biomimetic approaches to generate materials for the repair and regeneration of mineralized tissues, or restorative materials in the orthopedic field.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Kooti ◽  
A. Naghdi Sedeh

A new and simple method was applied for the synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles with an average size of 20 nm. In this microwave-assisted combustion method, glycine as a fuel and zinc nitrate as precursor were used. The final product was obtained very fast with high yield and purity. The synthesized nanoscale ZnO was characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The size and morphology of the ZnO nanoparticles have been determined by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. This is a simple and fast method for the preparation of ZnO nanoparticles with no need for expensive materials or complicated treatments.


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