1
|
Parvizian M, Reichholf N, Riaz AA, Bhatt P, Regoutz A, De Roo J. Molten Salt-Assisted Synthesis of Titanium Nitride. SMALL METHODS 2024:e2400228. [PMID: 38859636 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202400228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
Titanium nitride is an exciting plasmonic material, with optical properties similar to gold. However, synthesizing TiN nanocrystals is highly challenging and typically requires solid-state reactions at very high temperatures (800-1000°C). Here, the synthesis of TiN nanocrystals is achieved at temperatures as low as 350°C, in just 1 h. The strategy comprises molten salt, Mg as reductant and Ca3N2 as nitride source. This brings TiN from the realm of solid-state chemistry into the field of solution-based synthesis in regular, borosilicate glassware.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mahsa Parvizian
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, CH-4058, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nico Reichholf
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, CH-4058, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Aysha A Riaz
- Department of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, WC1H 0AJ, London, UK
| | - Prajna Bhatt
- Department of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, WC1H 0AJ, London, UK
| | - Anna Regoutz
- Department of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, WC1H 0AJ, London, UK
| | - Jonathan De Roo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, CH-4058, Basel, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Karaballi RA, Monfared YE, Bicket IC, Coridan RH, Dasog M. Solid-state synthesis of UV-plasmonic Cr 2N nanoparticles. J Chem Phys 2022; 157:154706. [PMID: 36272801 DOI: 10.1063/5.0109806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Materials that exhibit plasmonic response in the UV region can be advantageous for many applications, such as biological photodegradation, photocatalysis, disinfection, and bioimaging. Transition metal nitrides have recently emerged as chemically and thermally stable alternatives to metal-based plasmonic materials. However, most free-standing nitride nanostructures explored so far have plasmonic responses in the visible and near-IR regions. Herein, we report the synthesis of UV-plasmonic Cr2N nanoparticles using a solid-state nitridation reaction. The nanoparticles had an average diameter of 9 ± 5 nm and a positively charged surface that yields stable colloidal suspension. The particles were composed of a crystalline nitride core and an amorphous oxide/oxynitride shell whose thickness varied between 1 and 7 nm. Calculations performed using the finite element method predicted the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) for these nanoparticles to be in the UV-C region (100-280 nm). While a distinctive LSPR peak could not be observed using absorbance measurements, low-loss electron energy loss spectroscopy showed the presence of surface plasmons between 80 and 250 nm (or ∼5 to 15 eV) and bulk plasmons centered around 50-62 nm (or ∼20 to 25 eV). Plasmonic coupling was also observed between the nanoparticles, resulting in resonances between 250 and 400 nm (or ∼2.5 to 5 eV).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Reem A Karaballi
- Department of Chemistry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
| | | | - Isobel C Bicket
- Canadian Centre for Electron Microscopy, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M1, Canada
| | - Robert H Coridan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, USA
| | - Mita Dasog
- Department of Chemistry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Feldmann C. Large and Small Solids: A Journey Through Inorganic Chemistry. Z Anorg Allg Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/zaac.202200062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Claus Feldmann
- Institut für Anorganische Chemie Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Engesserstraße 15 D-76131 Karlsruhe Germany
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Parvizian M, De Roo J. Precursor chemistry of metal nitride nanocrystals. NANOSCALE 2021; 13:18865-18882. [PMID: 34779811 PMCID: PMC8615547 DOI: 10.1039/d1nr05092c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Metal nitride nanocrystals are a versatile class of nanomaterials. Depending on their chemical composition, the optical properties vary from those of traditional semiconductor nanocrystals (called quantum dots) to more metallic character (featuring a plasmon resonance). However, the synthesis of colloidal metal nitride nanocrystals is challenging since the underlying precursor chemistry is much less developed compared to the chemistry of metal, metal chalcogenide or metal phosphide nanocrystals. Here, we review chemical approaches that lead (or could lead) to the formation of colloidally stable metal nitride nanocrystals. By systematically comparing different synthetic approaches, we uncover trends and gain insight into the chemistry of these challenging materials. We also discuss and critically evaluate the plausibility of certain suggested mechanisms. This review is meant as a guide for the further development of colloidal nitride nanocrystals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mahsa Parvizian
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Jonathan De Roo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Vahidzadeh E, Zeng S, Alam KM, Kumar P, Riddell S, Chaulagain N, Gusarov S, Kobryn AE, Shankar K. Harvesting Hot Holes in Plasmon-Coupled Ultrathin Photoanodes for High-Performance Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:42741-42752. [PMID: 34476945 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c10698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The harvesting of hot carriers produced by plasmon decay to generate electricity or drive a chemical reaction enables the reduction of the thermalization losses associated with supra-band gap photons in semiconductor photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells. Through the broadband harvesting of light, hot-carrier PEC devices also produce a sensitizing effect in heterojunctions with wide-band gap metal oxide semiconductors possessing good photostability and catalytic activity but poor absorption of visible wavelength photons. There are several reports of hot electrons in Au injected over the Schottky barrier into crystalline TiO2 and subsequently utilized to drive a chemical reaction but very few reports of hot hole harvesting. In this work, we demonstrate the efficient harvesting of hot holes in Au nanoparticles (Au NPs) covered with a thin layer of amorphous TiO2 (a-TiO2). Under AM1.5G 1 sun illumination, photoanodes consisting of a single layer of ∼50 nm diameter Au NPs coated with a 10 nm shell of a-TiO2 (Au@a-TiO2) generated 2.5 mA cm-2 of photocurrent in 1 M KOH under 0.6 V external bias, rising to 3.7 mA cm-2 in the presence of a hole scavenger (methanol). The quantum yield for hot-carrier-mediated photocurrent generation was estimated to be close to unity for high-energy photons (λ < 420 nm). Au@a-TiO2 photoelectrodes produced a small positive photocurrent of 0.1 mA cm-2 even at a bias of -0.6 V indicating extraction of hot holes even at a strong negative bias. These results together with density functional theory modeling and scanning Kelvin probe force microscope data indicate fast injection of hot holes from Au NPs into a-TiO2 and light harvesting performed near-exclusively by Au NPs. For comparison, Au NPs coated with a 10 nm shell of Al2O3 (Au@Al2O3) generated 0.02 mA cm-2 of photocurrent in 1 M KOH under 0.6 V external bias. These results underscore the critical role played by a-TiO2 in the extraction of holes in Au@a-TiO2 photoanodes, which is not replicated by an ordinary dielectric shell. It is also demonstrated here that an ultrathin photoanode (<100 nm in maximum thickness) can efficiently drive sunlight-driven water splitting.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ehsan Vahidzadeh
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, 9211-116 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Sheng Zeng
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, 9211-116 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Kazi M Alam
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, 9211-116 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
- Nanotechnology Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, 11421 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2M9, Canada
| | - Pawan Kumar
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, 9211-116 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Saralyn Riddell
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, 9211-116 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Narendra Chaulagain
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, 9211-116 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Sergey Gusarov
- Nanotechnology Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, 11421 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2M9, Canada
| | - Alexander E Kobryn
- Nanotechnology Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, 11421 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2M9, Canada
| | - Karthik Shankar
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, 9211-116 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Egeberg A, Wenzel O, Popescu R, Gerthsen D, Feldmann C. Pyridine-based Liquid-Phase Synthesis of Crystalline TiN and ZnSiN 2 Nanoparticles. ChemistryOpen 2021; 10:334-339. [PMID: 33369889 PMCID: PMC7953485 DOI: 10.1002/open.202000315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
TiN and ZnSiN2 nanoparticles are obtained via a novel pyridine-based synthesis route. This one-pot liquid-phase route strictly avoids all oxygen sources (including starting materials, surface functionalization, solvents), which is highly relevant in regard of the material purity and material properties. Colloidally stable suspensions of crystalline, small-sized TiN (5.4±0.4 nm) and ZnSiN2 (5.2±1.1 nm) are instantaneously available from the liquid phase. Elemental analysis and electron energy loss spectroscopy confirm the purity of the compounds and specifically the absence of oxygen. The as-prepared ZnSiN2 show yellowish emission (500-700 nm) already at room temperature with its maximum at 570 nm.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Egeberg
- Institut für Anorganische ChemieKarlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)Engesserstrasse 1576131KarlsruheGermany
| | - Olivia Wenzel
- Laboratorium für ElektronenmikroskopieKarlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)Engesserstrasse 776131KarlsruheGermany
| | - Radian Popescu
- Laboratorium für ElektronenmikroskopieKarlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)Engesserstrasse 776131KarlsruheGermany
| | - Dagmar Gerthsen
- Laboratorium für ElektronenmikroskopieKarlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)Engesserstrasse 776131KarlsruheGermany
| | - Claus Feldmann
- Institut für Anorganische ChemieKarlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)Engesserstrasse 1576131KarlsruheGermany
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Esfahani Monfared Y, Dasog M. Computational investigation of the plasmonic properties of TiN, ZrN, and HfN nanoparticles: the role of particle size, medium, and surface oxidation. CAN J CHEM 2021. [DOI: 10.1139/cjc-2020-0335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Group 4 transition metal nitride (TMN) nanoparticles (NPs) display strong plasmonic responses in the visible and near-infrared regimes, exhibit high melting points and significant chemical stability, and thus are potential earth-abundant alternatives to Au and Ag based plasmonic applications. However, a detailed understanding of the relationship between TMN NP physical properties and plasmonic response is required to maximize their utility. In this study, the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) frequency, bandwidth, and extinction of titanium nitride (TiN), zirconium nitride (ZrN), and hafnium nitride (HfN) NPs were examined as a function of the particle size, surface oxidation, and refractive index of the surrounding medium using finite element method (FEM). A linear redshift in the LSPR frequency and a linear increase in the associated full width at half maximum (FWHM) was observed with increasing the particle size, oxidation layer thickness, and medium refractive index. We show that the effect of surface oxidation on plasmonic properties of TMN NPs is strongly size-dependent with a significant LSPR redshift, intensity reduction, and broadening in small NPs compared with larger NPs. Furthermore, the performance and efficiency of HfN, ZrN, and TiN, as well as Au NPs for narrowband (photothermal therapy, PTT) and broadband (solar energy conversion) applications, was investigated in detail. The results indicate that narrowband and broadband photothermal performance of NPs strongly depend on the particle size, surface properties, and in case of narrowband absorption, excitation wavelength.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yashar Esfahani Monfared
- Department of Chemistry, Dalhousie University, 6274 Coburg Road, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, Dalhousie University, 6274 Coburg Road, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Mita Dasog
- Department of Chemistry, Dalhousie University, 6274 Coburg Road, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, Dalhousie University, 6274 Coburg Road, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Zhang D, Cui H, Zhu C, Lv K, Zhang H, Liu X, Qiu J. Nanoscale Engineering of Optical nonlinearity Based on a Metal Nitride/Oxide Heterostructure. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:1253-1260. [PMID: 33356088 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c18431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The abilities to modulate linear and nonlinear optical response of materials in the nanoscale are of central importance in the design and fabrication of photonic devices for applications like optical modulators. Here, based on a simple transition metal oxide/nitride (TiO2/TiN) system, we show that it is possible to tune the optical properties by controlling the nanoscale architecture. Through controlled oxidation of the plasmonic TiN nanoparticle surfaces, we observe a continuous change of linear and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties with the increase of the thickness of the oxide layer in the TiN/TiO2 heterogeneous architecture. The NLO response is manifested by the strong saturable absorption with a structurally tunable negative NLO absorption coefficient. The variation in the NLO absorption coefficient by up to 7-fold can be connected to the relative change in the volume fraction of the metallic core and the dielectric shell. We demonstrate further that the optimized TiN-TiO2 heterostructures can be used to drive an optical switch for pulse laser generation in the 1.5 μm wavelength region. Our results delineate a topochemical process for optimization of the NLO properties of common plasmonic materials for photonic applications based on simple materials chemistry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Duoduo Zhang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Hao Cui
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Chenyang Zhu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Kefan Lv
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Haoran Zhang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Xiaofeng Liu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Jianrong Qiu
- College of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Karaballi RA, Esfahani Monfared Y, Dasog M. Photothermal Transduction Efficiencies of Plasmonic Group 4 Metal Nitride Nanocrystals. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2020; 36:5058-5064. [PMID: 32338909 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.9b03975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The photothermal transduction efficiencies of group 4 metal nitrides, TiN, ZrN, and HfN, at λ = 850 nm are reported, and the performance of these materials is compared to an Au nanorod benchmark. Transition metal nitride nanocrystals with an average diameter of ∼15 nm were prepared using a solid-state metathesis reaction. HfN exhibited the highest photothermal transduction efficiency of 65%, followed by ZrN (58%) and TiN (49%), which were all higher than those of the commercially purchased Au nanorods (43%). Computational studies performed using a finite element method showed HfN and Au to have the lowest and highest scattering cross section, respectively, which could be a contributing factor to the efficiency trends observed. Furthermore, the changes in temperature as a function of illumination intensity and solution concentration, as well as the cycling stability of the metal nitride solutions, were studied in detail.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Reem A Karaballi
- Department of Chemistry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3N 4R2, Canada
| | | | - Mita Dasog
- Department of Chemistry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3N 4R2, Canada
| |
Collapse
|