Continuous syntheses of Pd@Pt and Cu@Ag core-shell nanoparticles using microwave-assisted core particle formation coupled with galvanic metal displacement

Coalescing Dynamics between Ag55 and Cu55 Clusters as Well as Thermodynamics during Cooling the Coalesced Clusters from Atomic Simulations

Molecular dynamics simulations are performed to investigate the coalescing processes between a Cu55 cluster with a liquid, FCC, or Ih structure and a Ag55 cluster in liquid, as well as the structural changes of the coalesced clusters during the cooling process. The simulation results show that the initial structure of the Ag and Cu clusters significantly affects the coalescence stages and the structures after coalescence. There are apparent rotations of the Ag cluster with the liquid structure relative to the Cu cluster with the liquid structure when they are approaching. Before the formation of a neck, the Cu cluster with the Ih structure is more stable and less likely to lose its structure compared to the Cu cluster with the FCC structure. During the cooling process, the coalesced clusters will form different packing structures, including Ih and metastable core/shell structures. The Lode-Nadai values reveal the loading states on the atoms when the two clusters collide. The thermodynamic behaviors during the cooling process were investigated to better understand the order degree of the packing structures and the structural transition processes.

Semiflow Microwave Heating Reactor with Resonator Moving Mechanism Applied to Zeolite Synthesis

A semiflow microwave (MW) heating reactor similar to a flow reactor system was developed. Slurry raw materials in the reaction tube were heated continuously and cooled rapidly by moving a thin MW resonator instead of flowing slurry raw materials. From highly viscous mother slurries, Linde-type A (LTA) and faujasite (FAU)-type zeolite nanoparticles of small crystal grains were synthesized quickly. Results show that this heating system can synthesize hydroxy-sodalite (SOD)-type zeolite from coal fly ash particles including those larger than 50 μm. Numerical calculations using the COMSOL Multiphysics program revealed the thermal distribution of liquids of various viscosities using the semiflow MW heating reactor.

Metallic core-shell nanoparticles for conductive coatings and printing

The review is focused on bimetallic nanoparticles composed of a core formed by low-cost metal having high electrical conductivity, such as Cu and Ni, and a protective shell composed of stable to oxidation noble metal such as Ag or Au. We present the chemical and physical approaches for synthesis of such particles, as well as the combination of the two, the stability to oxidation of core-shell nanoparticles at various conditions, and the formulation of conductive compositions and their application in conductive coatings and printed electronics.

In situ microwave heating fabrication of copper nanoparticles inside cotton fiber using pressurization in immiscible liquids with raw material solutions

We developed a method for in situ fabrication of copper nanoparticles inside cotton fibers. Copper nanoparticles can be fabricated mainly in the central part of the fiber by absorbing a raw material solution and by applying microwave heating in a state where the raw material solution is pressed with immiscible liquids. Surface SEM images and cross-sectional EDS mapping for the fabricated fibers clarified that copper nanoparticles fabricated on the cotton surface were suppressed considerably more by the hydrophobic raw material solution than by the hydrophilic raw material solution. These cotton fibers containing copper nanoparticles were found to have antiviral properties against the influenza A virus.

Polydispersity vs. Monodispersity. How the Properties of Ni-Ag Core-Shell Nanoparticles Affect the Conductivity of Ink Coatings

The effect of polydispersity of nickel-silver core-shell nanoparticles (Ni-Ag NPs) on the conductivity of ink coatings was studied. Ni-Ag NPs of various average diameters (100, 220, and 420 nm) were synthesized and utilized for the preparation of conductive inks composed of monodisperse NPs and their polydisperse mixtures. The shell thickness of synthesized Ni-Ag NPs was found to be in the range of 10–20 nm and to provide stability of a core metal to oxidation for at least 6 months. The conductivity of metallic films formed by inks with monodisperse Ni-Ag NPs was compared with those formed by polydisperse inks. In all cases, the optimal conditions for the formation of conductive patterns (weight ratio of monodisperse NPs for polydisperse composition, the concentration of the wetting agent, sintering temperature, and duration) were determined. It was found that metallic films formed by polydisperse ink containing 100, 220, and 420 nm Ni-Ag NPs with a mass ratio of 1:1.5:0.5, respectively, are characterized by the lowest resistivity, 10.9 µΩ·cm, after their thermal post-coating sintering at 300 °C for 30 min that is only 1.6 higher than that of bulk nickel.

Continuous syntheses of carbon-supported Pd and Pd@Pt core-shell nanoparticles using a flow-type single-mode microwave reactor

Continuous syntheses of carbon-supported Pd@Pt core-shell nanoparticles were performed using microwave-assisted flow reaction in polyol to synthesize carbon-supported core Pd with subsequent direct coating of a Pt shell. By optimizing the amount of NaOH, almost all Pt precursors contributed to shell formation without specific chemicals.

Ultrafine PdOx nanoparticles on spinel oxides by galvanic displacement for catalytic combustion of methane

The excellent catalytic activity of methane combustion over the Pd/NiCo₂O₄ is attributed to ultrafine Pd nanopariticles and a tight Pd-spinel interface obtained by galvanic displacement.

Core@shell Nanoparticles: Greener Synthesis Using Natural Plant Products

Among an array of hybrid nanoparticles, core-shell nanoparticles comprise of two or more materials, such as metals and biomolecules, wherein one of them forms the core at the center, while the other material/materials that were located around the central core develops a shell. Core-shell nanostructures are useful entities with high thermal and chemical stability, lower toxicity, greater solubility, and higher permeability to specific target cells. Plant or natural products-mediated synthesis of nanostructures refers to the use of plants or its extracts for the synthesis of nanostructures, an emerging field of sustainable nanotechnology. Various physiochemical and greener methods have been advanced for the synthesis of nanostructures, in contrast to conventional approaches that require the use of synthetic compounds for the assembly of nanostructures. Although several biological resources have been exploited for the synthesis of core-shell nanoparticles, but plant-based materials appear to be the ideal candidates for large-scale green synthesis of core-shell nanoparticles. This review summarizes the known strategies for the greener production of core-shell nanoparticles using plants extract or their derivatives and highlights their salient attributes, such as low costs, the lack of dependence on the use of any toxic materials, and the environmental friendliness for the sustainable assembly of stabile nanostructures.

One-Step Fast Synthesis of Nanoparticles for MRI: Coating Chemistry as the Key Variable Determining Positive or Negative Contrast

Iron oxide nanomaterial is a typical example of a magnetic resonance imaging probe for negative contrast. It has also been shown how this nanomaterial can be synthesized for positive contrast by modification of the composition and size of the core. However, the role of the organic coating in the relaxometric properties is largely unexplored. Here, maghemite nanoparticles with either excellent positive or very good negative contrast performance are obtained by modifying coating thickness while the core is kept unchanged. Different nanoparticles with tailored features as contrast agent according to the coating layer thickness have been obtained in a single-step microwave-driven synthesis by heating at different temperatures. A comprehensive analysis is conducted of how the composition and structure of the coating affects the final magnetic, relaxometric, and imaging performance. These results show how the organic coating plays a fundamental role in the intrinsic relaxometric parameters of iron oxide-based contrast media.

Engineering Functions into Platinum and Platinum-Rhodium Nanoparticles in a One-Step Microwave Irradiation Synthesis

Platinum (Pt) and platinum-rhodium (PtRh) nanoparticles (NPs) are active catalysts for a range of important industrial reactions, and their response has been shown to be affected by size, morphology, composition, and architectural configuration. We report herein the engineering of these functionalities into NPs by suitably modifying our single-step fabrication process by using microwave irradiation dielectric heating. NPs with different morphologies are acquired by manipulating the reaction kinetics with the concentration of the capping agent while keeping the reaction time constant. Pt@Rh core@shell octopod-cube, Pt-truncated-cube, and cube and small-sphere NPs having "near-monodisperse" distributions and average sizes in the range of 4 to 18 nm are obtained. By increasing the microwave time the composition of Pt@Rh can be tuned, and NPs with a Rh-rich shell and a tunable Pt_100-x Rh _x (x≤41 at %) core are fabricated. Finally, alloy bimetallic PtRh NPs with controlled composition are designed by simultaneous tuning of the relative molar ratio of the metal precursors and the microwave irradiation time.

Sintering of multiple Cu–Ag core–shell nanoparticles and properties of nanoparticle-sintered structures

Multiple-CS-NP sintered structure of 600 K yields similar porosity as the counterpart sintered at surface premelting temperature (900 K).

Microwave-driven synthesis of bisphosphonate nanoparticles allows in vivo visualisation of atherosclerotic plaque

From flask to plaque characterisation in less than 4 hours. Extremely fast detection of atherosclerosis plaque by nanoparticle-based MRI.