Mesocrystal TiO2 films: In-situ Topotactic Transformation and Application in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Thin film ceramics and semiconductors play an important role in energy- and environment- related areas such as photovoltaics, energy storage and water purification. The morphology and structure of materials significantly...

Preparation of ZnO/Brucite Functional Composite Powder by the Mechanochemical Method

In this experiment, ZnO/brucite composite powder was prepared through the mechanochemical method; further, the properties, particle morphology, and structure of the composite powder were characterized. The results show that mechanical grinding action can promote the production of a large number of surface ions with unsaturated coordination number on the surface of brucite and ZnO particles, thereby promoting hydroxylation of the particle surfaces. The addition of NaOH to the composite system can also aid the further activation of the surface of the brucite and ZnO particles and the formation of more associated hydroxyl groups. Finally, a core–shell composite powder is formed with weak forces such as hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces as the connecting bonds.

Analysis of the Morphology and Structure of Carbon Deposit Formed on the Surface of Ni3Al Foils as a Result of Thermocatalytic Decomposition of Ethanol

This article presents the results of investigations of the morphology and structure of carbon deposit formed as a result of ethanol decomposition at 500 °C, 600 °C, and 700 °C without water vapour and with water vapour (0.35 and 1.1% by volume). scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) observations as well as energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman spectroscopic analyses allowed for a comprehensive characterization of the morphology and structure of cylindrical carbon nanostructures present on the surface of the Ni3Al catalyst. Depending on the reaction mixture composition (i.e., water vapour content) and decomposition temperature, various carbon nanotubes/carbon nanofibres (CNTs/CNFs) were observed: multiwalled carbon nanotubes, herringbone-type multiwall carbon nanotubes, cylindrical carbon nanofibers, platelet carbon nanofibers, and helical carbon nanotubes/nanofibres. The discussed carbon nanostructures exhibited nickel nanoparticles at the ends and in the middle part of the carbon nanostructures as catalytically active centres for efficient ethanol decomposition.

Design and Preparation of Nanoporous Cu/Ag Multilayer Films

Cu30Al70 and Ag30Al70 multilayer precursor films were prepared by magnetron sputtering, respectively. Then the nanoporous Cu/Ag multilayer composite films were successfully prepared by selecting the appropriate H2SO4 solution as the dealloying solution. It was found that the nanoporous structure was stable in the dealloying solution. The morphology and structure of nanoporous films are mainly related to the phase composition of precursors. The structure of nanoporous multilayers can be simply regarded as the superposition of single-layer structures. Our work shows that nanoporous multilayers can be well-prepared by magnetron sputtering combined with dealloying.