Core-shell nanoparticles: synthesis and applications in catalysis and electrocatalysis

Synthesis of Oil-Laden Poly(ethylene glycol) Diacrylate Hydrogel Nanocapsules from Double Nanoemulsions

Multiple emulsions have received great interest due to their ability to be used as templates for the production of multicompartment particles for a variety of applications. However, scaling these complex droplets to nanoscale dimensions has been a challenge due to limitations on their fabrication methods. Here, we report the development of oil-in-water-in-oil (O₁/W/O₂) double nanoemulsions via a two-step high-energy method and their use as templates for complex nanogels comprised of inner oil droplets encapsulated within a hydrogel matrix. Using a combination of characterization methods, we determine how the properties of the nanogels are controlled by the size, stability, internal morphology, and chemical composition of the nanoemulsion templates from which they are formed. This allows for identification of compositional and emulsification parameters that can be used to optimize the size and oil encapsulation efficiency of the nanogels. Our templating method produces oil-laden nanogels with high oil encapsulation efficiencies and average diameters of 200-300 nm. In addition, we demonstrate the versatility of the system by varying the types of inner oil, the hydrogel chemistry, the amount of inner oil, and the hydrogel network cross-link density. These nontoxic oil-laden nanogels have potential applications in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic formulations.

Serrated Au/Pd Core/Shell Nanowires with Jagged Edges for Boosting Liquid Fuel Electrooxidation

Integration of 1D, core/shell, and jagged features into one entity may provide a promising avenue for further enhancing catalyst performance. However, designing such unique nanostructures is extremely challenging. Herein, 1D serrated Au/Pd core/shell nanowires (CSNWs) with jagged edges were produced simply by a one-pot, dual-capping-agent-assisted method involving co-reduction, galvanic replacement, directional coalescence of preformed nanoparticles, and site-selective epitaxial growth of Pd. Au/PdCSNWs, compared with the commercially available Pd/C, exhibited enhanced electrocatalytic performance towards liquid fuel oxidation because of the synergistic effect of the electronic structure and low-coordinated jagged edges.

Core@shell, Au@TiOx nanoparticles by gas phase synthesis

Herein, gas phase synthesis and characterization of multifunctional core@shell, Au@TiOx nanoparticles have been reported. The nanoparticles were produced via a one-step process using a multiple-ion cluster source under a controlled environment that guaranteed the purity of the nanoparticles. The growth of the Au cores (6 nm diameter) is stopped when they pass through the Ti plasma where they are covered by an ultra-thin (1 nm thick) and homogeneous titanium shell that is oxidized in-flight before the soft-landing of the nanoparticles. The Au cores were found to be highly crystalline with icosahedral (44%) and decahedral (66%) structures, whereas the shell, mainly composed of TiO2 (79%), was not ordered. The highly electrical insulating behaviour of the titanium oxide shell was confirmed by the charging effect produced during X-ray photoemission spectroscopy.

ZnO@C (core@shell) microspheres derived from spent coffee grounds as applicable non-precious electrode material for DMFCs

Although numerous reports have introduced non precious electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation, most of those studies did not consider the corresponding high onset potential which restricts utilization in real fuel cells. In this study, an -90 mV [vs. Ag/AgCl] onset potential non-precious electrocatalyst is introduced as an applicable anode material for the direct methanol fuel cells. Moreover, the proposed material was prepared from a cheap and abundantly existing resource; the spent coffee grounds. Typically, the spent coffee grounds were facilely converted to core@shell (ZnO@C) microspheres through a two-step approach, involving chemical activation and a subsequent calcination at temperature of 700 °C. Activation of the carbon derived from the spent coffee grounds was performed with ZnCl₂ which acts as pore-forming agent as well as a precursor for the ZnO. The structure and morphology were characterized by (XRD), (SEM), and (TEM) analyses while the electrochemical characterizations was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) technique. Besides the comparatively very low onset potential, the introduced microspheres exhibited relatively high current density; 17 mA/cm². Overall, based on the advantages of the green source of carbon and the good electrocatalytic activity, the spent coffee grounds-derived carbon can be considered a promise anode material for the DMFCs.

Aligned cuboid iron nanoparticles by epitaxial electrodeposition

Aligned, individual iron square cuboid nanoparticles have been achieved by taking advantage of epitaxial, three-dimensional-island growth on GaAs(001) during electrodeposition at low deposition rates. The nanoparticles exhibit lateral dimensions between 10 and 80 nm and heights below 40 nm. Surface {100} facets predominate with a thin crystalline oxide shell that protects the nanoparticles during prolonged storage in air. The single crystallinity of the iron in combination with structural alignment leads to an in-plane magnetic anisotropy. These immobilized, oriented, and stable nanoparticles are promising for applications in nanoelectronic, sensor, and data storage technologies, as well as for the detailed analysis of the effect of shape and size on magnetism at the nanoscale.

From Galvanic to Anti-Galvanic Synthesis of Bimetallic Nanoparticles and Applications in Catalysis, Sensing, and Materials Science

The properties of two alloyed metals have been known since the Bronze Age to outperform those of a single metal. How alloying and mixing metals applies to the nanoworld is now attracting considerable attention. The galvanic process, which is more than two centuries old and involves the reduction of a noble-metal cation by a less noble metal, has not only been used in technological processes, but also in the design of nanomaterials for the synthesis of bimetallic transition-metal nanoparticles. The background and nanoscience applications of the galvanic reactions (GRs) are reviewed here, in particular with emphasis on recent progress in bimetallic catalysis. Very recently, new reactions have been discovered with nanomaterials that contradict the galvanic principle, and these reactions, called anti-galvanic reactions (AGRs), are now attracting much interest for their mechanistic, synthetic, catalytic, and sensor aspects. The second part of the review deals with these AGRs and compares GRs and AGRs, including the intriguing AGRs mechanism and the first applications.

Critical Insight into the Relentless Progression Toward Graphene and Graphene-Containing Materials for Lithium-Ion Battery Anodes

Used as a bare active material or component in hybrids, graphene has been the subject of numerous studies in recent years. Indeed, from the first report that appeared in late July 2008, almost 1600 papers were published as of the end 2015 that investigated the properties of graphene as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries. Although an impressive amount of data has been collected, a real advance in the field still seems to be missing. In this framework, attention is focused on the most prominent research efforts in this field with the aim of identifying the causes of such relentless progression through an insightful and critical evaluation of the lithium-ion storage performances (i.e., 1^st cycle irreversible capacity, specific gravimetric and volumetric capacities, average delithiation voltage profile, rate capability and stability upon cycling). The "graphene fever" has certainly provided a number of fundamental studies unveiling the electrochemical properties of this "wonder" material. However, analysis of the published literature also highlights a loss of focus from the final application. Hype-driven claims, not fully appropriate metrics, and negligence of key parameters are probably some of the factors still hindering the application of graphene in commercial batteries.

Hexagonal Mesoporous Silica-Supported Copper Oxide (CuO/HMS) Catalyst: Synthesis of Primary Amides from Aldehydes in Aqueous Medium

Hexagonal mesoporous silica (HMS)-supported copper oxides (CuO/HMS) have been prepared by a sol-gel method and characterized by X-ray diffraction, FTIR spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, N₂ sorption, inductively coupled plasma (ICP), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), H₂ temperature-programed reduction (TPR), NH₃ temperature-programed desorption (TPD), and high-resolution (HR)-TEM techniques. An analysis of these results revealed a mesoporous material system with a high surface area (974 m²  g^-1 ) and uniform pore-size distribution. The catalytic efficacy of CuO on the HMS support with varying Cu loadings (1, 3, 5, 10, and 15 wt %) was investigated for the transformation of aldehydes to primary amides; 3 wt % CuO/HMS exhibited good catalytic performance with good to excellent yields of amides (60-92 %) in benign aqueous medium. The intrinsically heterogeneous catalyst could be recovered after the reaction and reused without any noticeable loss in activity.

Molecular Coatings for Stabilizing Silver and Gold Nanocubes under Electron Beam Irradiation

We study the degradation process of closely spaced silver and gold nanocubes under high-energy electron beam irradiation using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The high aspect ratio gaps between silver and gold nanocubes degraded in many cases as a result of protrusion and filament formation during electron beam irradiation. We demonstrate that the molecular coating of the nanoparticles can act as a protective barrier to minimize electron-beam-induced damage on passivated gold and silver nanoparticles.

In Situ Generation of Pd-Pt Core-Shell Nanoparticles on Reduced Graphene Oxide (Pd@Pt/rGO) Using Microwaves: Applications in Dehalogenation Reactions and Reduction of Olefins

Core-shell nanocatalysts are a distinctive class of nanomaterials with varied potential applications in view of their unique structure, composition-dependent physicochemical properties, and promising synergism among the individual components. A one-pot microwave (MW)-assisted approach is described to prepare the reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-supported Pd-Pt core-shell nanoparticles, (Pd@Pt/rGO); spherical core-shell nanomaterials (∼95 nm) with Pd core (∼80 nm) and 15 nm Pt shell were nicely distributed on the rGO matrix in view of the choice of reductant and reaction conditions. The well-characterized composite nanomaterials, endowed with synergism among its components and rGO support, served as catalysts in aromatic dehalogenation reactions and for the reduction of olefins with high yield (>98%), excellent selectivity (>98%) and recyclability (up to 5 times); both Pt/rGO and Pd/rGO and even their physical mixtures showed considerably lower conversions (20 and 57%) in dehalogenation of 3-bromoaniline. Similarly, in the reduction of styrene to ethylbenzene, Pd@Pt core-shell nanoparticles (without rGO support) possess considerably lower conversion (60%) compared to Pd@Pt/rGO. The mechanism of dehalogenation reactions with Pd@Pt/rGO catalyst is discussed with the explicit premise that rGO matrix facilitates the adsorption of the reducing agent, thus enhancing its local concentration and expediting the hydrazine decomposition rate. The versatility of the catalyst has been validated via diverse substrate scope for both reduction and dehalogenation reactions.

Molecularly imprinted polymers for sample preparation and biosensing in food analysis: Progress and perspectives

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are biomimetics which can selectively bind to analytes of interest. One of the most interesting areas where MIPs have shown the biggest potential is food analysis. MIPs have found use as sorbents in sample preparation attributed to the high selectivity and high loading capacity. MIPs have been intensively employed in classical solid-phase extraction and solid-phase microextraction. More recently, MIPs have been combined with magnetic bead extraction, which greatly simplifies sample handling procedures. Studies have consistently shown that MIPs can effectively minimize complex food matrix effects, and improve recoveries and detection limits. In addition to sample preparation, MIPs have also been viewed as promising alternatives to bio-receptors due to the inherent molecular recognition abilities and the high stability in harsh chemical and physical conditions. MIPs have been utilized as receptors in biosensing platforms such as electrochemical, optical and mass biosensors to detect various analytes in food. In this review, we will discuss the current state-of-the-art of MIP synthesis and applications in the context of food analysis. We will highlight the imprinting methods which are applicable for imprinting food templates, summarize the recent progress in using MIPs for preparing and analysing food samples, and discuss the current limitations in the commercialisation of MIPs technology. Finally, future perspectives will be given.

Future Challenges in Heterogeneous Catalysis: Understanding Catalysts under Dynamic Reaction Conditions

In the future, (electro-)chemical catalysts will have to be more tolerant towards a varying supply of energy and raw materials. This is mainly due to the fluctuating nature of renewable energies. For example, power-to-chemical processes require a shift from steady-state operation towards operation under dynamic reaction conditions. This brings along a number of demands for the design of both catalysts and reactors, because it is well-known that the structure of catalysts is very dynamic. However, in-depth studies of catalysts and catalytic reactors under such transient conditions have only started recently. This requires studies and advances in the fields of 1) operando spectroscopy including time-resolved methods, 2) theory with predictive quality, 3) kinetic modelling, 4) design of catalysts by appropriate preparation concepts, and 5) novel/modular reactor designs. An intensive exchange between these scientific disciplines will enable a substantial gain of fundamental knowledge which is urgently required. This concept article highlights recent developments, challenges, and future directions for understanding catalysts under dynamic reaction conditions.

Sequential partial ion exchange synthesis of composite Ni3S2/Co9S8/NiSe nanoarrays with a lavender-like hierarchical morphology

A hierarchical Ni@Ni₃S₂/Co₉S₈/NiSe composite through sequential partial ion exchange for supercapacitor design.

Synthesis of a Fe3O4@P4VP@metal–organic framework core–shell structure and studies of its aerobic oxidation reactivity

A novel core–shell magnetic Fe₃O₄@P4VP@MIL-100(Fe) composite material has been synthesized and its aerobic oxidation activity has been extensively studied.

High thermal stability of core–shell structures dominated by negative interface energy

Superheating of the low-T_m(∞)-core is induced by the negative interface energy, improving thermal expansion, atomic diffusion and heat capacity accordingly.

Controllable preparation of core–shell magnetic covalent-organic framework nanospheres for efficient adsorption and removal of bisphenols in aqueous solution

A monomer-mediated in situ growth strategy has been developed for the controllable fabrication of magnetic COF core–shell nanostructures with great potential for wide applications.

An Fe3O4@P4VP@FeCl3 core–shell heterogeneous catalyst for aerobic oxidation of alcohols and benzylic oxidation reaction

A novel Fe₃O₄@P4VP@FeCl₃ core–shell catalyst has been developed through coordination interaction between P4VP and FeCl₃, which was utilized in selective oxidation of alcohols using molecular oxygen as the oxidant.

Cu@Ni core–shell nanoparticles/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites for nonenzymatic glucose sensor

Cu@Ni core–shell nanoparticle decorated reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites are prepared and further employed as a novel sensing material for fabricating a sensitive nonenzymatic glucose sensor with excellent performance for glucose.

Tuning the modulus of nanostructured ionomer films of core-shell nanoparticles based on poly(n-butyl acrylate)

In this study we investigate the structure-mechanical property relationships for nanostructured ionomer films containing ionically crosslinked core-shell polymer nanoparticles based on poly(n-butyl acrylate) (PBA). Whilst nanostructured ionomer films of core-shell nanoparticles have been previously shown to have good ductility [Soft Matter, 2014, 10, 4725], the modulus values were modest. Here, we used BA as the primary monomer to construct core-shell nanoparticles that provided films containing nanostructured polymers with much higher glass transition temperature (T_g) values. The core-shell nanoparticles were synthesised using BA, acrylonitrile (AN), methacrylic acid (MAA) and 1,4-butanediol diacrylate (BDDA). Nanostructured ionomer films were prepared by casting aqueous core-shell nanoparticle dispersions in which the shell -COOH groups were neutralised with KOH and ZnO. The film mechanical properties were studied using dynamic mechanical analysis and tensile stress-strain measurements. The use of BA-based nanoparticles increased the T_g values to close to room temperature which caused a strong dependence of the film mechanical properties on the AN content and extent of neutralisation of the -COOH groups. The Young's modulus values for the films ranged from 1.0 to 86.0 MPa. The latter is the highest modulus reported for cast films of nanostructured ionomer films prepared from core-shell nanoparticles. The films had good ductility with strain-at-break values of at least 200%. The mechanical properties of the films were successfully modelled using the isostrain model. From comparison with an earlier butadiene-based system this study demonstrates that the nature of the primary monomer used to construct the nanoparticles can profoundly change the film mechanical properties. The aqueous nanoparticle dispersion approach used here provides a simple and versatile method to prepare high modulus elastomer films with tuneable mechanical properties.

Cadmium sulphide quantum dots with tunable electronic properties by bacterial precipitation

We present a new method to fabricate semiconducting, transition metal nanoparticles (NPs) with tunable bandgap energies using engineered Escherichia coli. These bacteria overexpress the Treponema denticola cysteine desulfhydrase gene to facilitate precipitation of cadmium sulphide (CdS) NPs. Analysis with transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveal that the bacterially precipitated NPs are agglomerates of mostly quantum dots, with diameters that can range from 3 to 15 nm, embedded in a carbon-rich matrix. Additionally, conditions for bacterial CdS precipitation can be tuned to produce NPs with bandgap energies that range from quantum-confined to bulk CdS. Furthermore, inducing precipitation at different stages of bacterial growth allows for control over whether the precipitation occurs intra- or extracellularly. This control can be critically important in utilizing bacterial precipitation for the environmentally-friendly fabrication of functional, electronic and catalytic materials. Notably, the measured photoelectrochemical current generated by these NPs is comparable to values reported in the literature and higher than that of synthesized chemical bath deposited CdS NPs. This suggests that bacterially precipitated CdS NPs have potential for applications ranging from photovoltaics to photocatalysis in hydrogen evolution.

Development of highly faceted reduced graphene oxide-coated copper oxide and copper nanoparticles on a copper foil surface

This work describes the formation of reduced graphene oxide-coated copper oxide and copper nanoparticles (rGO-Cu2ONPs, rGO-CuNPs) on the surface of a copper foil supporting graphene oxide (GO) at annealing temperatures of 200-1000 °C, under an Ar atmosphere. These hybrid nanostructures were developed from bare copper oxide nanoparticles which grew at an annealing temperature of 80 °C under nitrogen flux. The predominant phase as well as the particle size and shape strongly depend on the process temperature. Characterization with transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy indicates that Cu or Cu2O nanoparticles take rGO sheets from the rGO network to form core-shell Cu-rGO or Cu2O-rGO nanostructures. It is noted that such ones increase in size from 5 to 800 nm as the annealing temperature increases in the 200-1000 °C range. At 1000 °C, Cu nanoparticles develop a highly faceted morphology, displaying arm-like carbon nanorods that originate from different facets of the copper crystal structure.

Synthesis and catalytic applications of C3-symmetric tris(triazolyl)methanol ligands and derivatives

Recently introduced tris(1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)methanols and derivatives (TTM ligands) have become a valuable subclass of C3-symmetric tripodal ligands for transition metal-mediated reactions. TTM-based ligand architectures are modularly constructed through regioselective, one-pot triple [3+2] cycloaddition of azides and alkynes. Applications of homogeneous systems of this type and of heterogenised (polystyrene- and magnetic nanoparticle-supported) TTM ligands in synthesis and catalysis are compiled in this Feature Article.

Real-Time Imaging of the Formation of Au-Ag Core-Shell Nanoparticles

We study the overgrowth process of silver-on-gold nanocubes in dilute, aqueous silver nitrate solution in the presence of a reducing agent, ascorbic acid, using in situ liquid-cell electron microscopy. Au-Ag core-shell nanostructures were formed via two mechanistic pathways: (1) nuclei coalescence, where the Ag nanoparticles absorbed onto the Au nanocubes, and (2) monomer attachment, where the Ag atoms epitaxially deposited onto the Au nanocubes. Both pathways lead to the same Au-Ag core-shell nanostructures. Analysis of the Ag deposition rate reveals the growth modes of this process and shows that this reaction is chemically mediated by the reducing agent.

Intrinsically core-shell plasmonic dielectric nanostructures with ultrahigh refractive index

Topological insulators are a new class of quantum materials with metallic (edge) surface states and insulating bulk states. They demonstrate a variety of novel electronic and optical properties, which make them highly promising electronic, spintronic, and optoelectronic materials. We report on a novel conic plasmonic nanostructure that is made of bulk-insulating topological insulators and has an intrinsic core-shell formation. The insulating (dielectric) core of the nanocone displays an ultrahigh refractive index of up to 5.5 in the near-infrared frequency range. On the metallic shell, plasmonic response and strong backward light scattering were observed in the visible frequency range. Through integrating the nanocone arrays into a-Si thin film solar cells, up to 15% enhancement of light absorption was predicted in the ultraviolet and visible ranges. With these unique features, the intrinsically core-shell plasmonic nanostructure paves a new way for designing low-loss and high-performance visible to infrared optical devices.

Controlling core/shell Au/FePt nanoparticle electrocatalysis via changing the core size and shell thickness

Using a modified seed-mediated method, we synthesized core/shell Au/FePt nanoparticles (NPs) with Au sizes of 4, 7, and 9 nm and the FePt shell was controlled to have similar FePt compositions and 0.5, 1, and 2 nm thickness. We studied both core and shell effects on electrochemical and electrocatalytic properties of the Au/FePt NPs, and found that the Au core did change the redox chemistry of the FePt shell and promoted its electrochemical oxidation of methanol. The catalytic activity was dependent on the FePt thicknesses, but not much on the Au core sizes, and the 1 nm FePt shell was found to be the optimal thickness for catalyzing methanol oxidation in 0.1 M HClO4 + 0.1 M methanol, offering not only high activity (1.19 mA cm(-2) at 0.5 V vs. Ag/AgCl), but also enhanced stability. Our studies demonstrate a general approach to the design and tuning of shell catalysis in the core/shell structure to achieve optimal catalysis for important electrochemical reactions.

One-Pot Fabrication of Mesoporous Core-Shell Au@PtNi Ternary Metallic Nanoparticles and Their Enhanced Efficiency for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Currently, Pt-based nanomaterials with tailorable shapes, structures, and morphologies are the most popular electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction, which is a significant cathode reaction in fuel cells for renewable energy applications. We have successfully synthesized mesoporous core-shell Au@PtNi ternary metallic nanoparticles through a one-pot reduction method for cathodic materials used as oxygen reduction reaction catalysts. The as-synthesized nanoparticles exhibited superior catalytic activities and long-term stabilities compared with mesoporous core-shell Au@Pt nanoparticles and commercial Pt/C. The unique mesoporous core-shell structures as well as the alloy shells enable the enhanced electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction performances of the Pt-based materials via the electronic effect and geometric effect, holding great promise in fuel cell application.

Facile synthesis of nickel based nanostructures from Ni[EMIM]Cl2 ionic liquid precursor: effects of thermal and chemical methods on the properties of nanoparticles

Graphical representation of the preparation of ionic liquid precursor for the preparation of Ni nanostructures.