Explore the vast range of titles available.

Shape control of inorganic nanocrystals is important for understanding basic size-and shape-dependent scaling laws and is useful in a wide range of applications. With minor modifications in the chemical environment, it is possible to control the reaction and diffusion processes at room temperature, opening up a synthetic route for the production of polymetallic hollow nanoparticles with very different morphology and composition, obtained by the simultaneous or sequential action of galvanic replacement and the Kirkendall effect.

Semiconductor nanomembranes: the next small thing? Nanomembranes are a new and exciting class of materials for electronics applications. They are monocrystalline two-dimensional structures less than a few hundred nanometres thick. Unlike thin films, nanomembranes are self-standing and can be isolated from the substrate. Their geometry makes these materials particularly suitable for integration with electronic devices using existing technology. In this Review, the synthetic challenges, the multi-layer assembly procedures and applications of semiconductor nanomembranes in electronics and optoelectronics are reviewed. It covers both those inorganic semiconductive materials that can be reduced to a nanomembrane, and the two-dimensional organic carbon structures that are an alternative to graphene. Research in electronic nanomaterials, historically dominated by studies of nanocrystals/fullerenes and nanowires/nanotubes, now incorporates a growing focus on sheets with nanoscale thicknesses, referred to as nanomembranes. Such materials have practical appeal because their two-dimensional geometries facilitate integration into devices, with realistic pathways to manufacturing. Recent advances in synthesis provide access to nanomembranes with extraordinary properties in a variety of configurations, some of which exploit quantum and other size-dependent effects. This progress, together with emerging methods for deterministic assembly, leads to compelling opportunities for research, from basic studies of two-dimensional physics to the development of applications of heterogeneous electronics.

Controlling anisotropy is a key concept in the generation of complex functionality in advanced materials. For this concept, oriented attachment of nanocrystal building blocks, a self-assembly of particles into larger single-crystalline objects, is one of the most promising approaches in nanotechnology. We report here the two-dimensional oriented attachment of lead sulfide (PbS) nanocrystals into ultrathin single-crystal sheets with dimensions on the micrometer scale. We found that this process is initiated by cosolvents, which alter nucleation and growth rates during the primary nanocrystal formation, and is finally driven by dense packing of oleic acid ligands on {100} facets of PbS. The obtained nanosheets can be readily integrated in a photodetector device without further treatment.

Ribbon development Graphene nanoribbons, narrow straight-edged strips of the single-atom-thick sheet form of carbon, are predicted to exhibit remarkable properties, making them suitable for future electronic applications. Before this potential can be realized, more chemically precise methods of production will be required. Cai et al . report a step towards that goal with the development of a bottom-up fabrication method that produces atomically precise graphene nanoribbons of different topologies and widths. The process involves the deposition of precursor monomers with structures that 'encode' the topology and width of the desired ribbon end-product onto a metal surface. Surface-assisted coupling of the precursors into linear polyphenylenes is then followed by cyclodehydrogenation. Given the method's versatility and precision, it could even provide a route to more unusual graphene nanoribbon structures with tuned chemical and electronic properties. Graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) have structure-dependent electronic properties that make them attractive for the fabrication of nanoscale electronic devices, but exploiting this potential has been hindered by the lack of precise production methods. Here the authors demonstrate how to reliably produce different GNRs, using precursor monomers that encode the structure of the targeted nanoribbon and are converted into GNRs by means of surface-assisted coupling. Graphene nanoribbons—narrow and straight-edged stripes of graphene, or single-layer graphite—are predicted to exhibit electronic properties that make them attractive for the fabrication of nanoscale electronic devices 1 , 2 , 3 . In particular, although the two-dimensional parent material graphene 4 , 5 exhibits semimetallic behaviour, quantum confinement and edge effects 2 , 6 should render all graphene nanoribbons with widths smaller than 10 nm semiconducting. But exploring the potential of graphene nanoribbons is hampered by their limited availability: although they have been made using chemical 7 , 8 , 9 , sonochemical 10 and lithographic 11 , 12 methods as well as through the unzipping of carbon nanotubes 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , the reliable production of graphene nanoribbons smaller than 10 nm with chemical precision remains a significant challenge. Here we report a simple method for the production of atomically precise graphene nanoribbons of different topologies and widths, which uses surface-assisted coupling 17 , 18 of molecular precursors into linear polyphenylenes and their subsequent cyclodehydrogenation 19 , 20 . The topology, width and edge periphery of the graphene nanoribbon products are defined by the structure of the precursor monomers, which can be designed to give access to a wide range of different graphene nanoribbons. We expect that our bottom-up approach to the atomically precise fabrication of graphene nanoribbons will finally enable detailed experimental investigations of the properties of this exciting class of materials. It should even provide a route to graphene nanoribbon structures with engineered chemical and electronic properties, including the theoretically predicted intraribbon quantum dots 21 , superlattice structures 22 and magnetic devices based on specific graphene nanoribbon edge states 3 .

Understanding of colloidal nanocrystal growth mechanisms is essential for the syntheses of nanocrystals with desired physical properties. The classical model for the growth of monodisperse nanocrystals assumes a discrete nucleation stage followed by growth via monomer attachment, but has overlooked particle-particle interactions. Recent studies have suggested that interactions between particles play an important role. Using in situ transmission electron microscopy, we show that platinum nanocrystals can grow either by monomer attachment from solution or by particle coalescence. Through the combination of these two processes, an initially broad size distribution can spontaneously narrow into a nearly monodisperse distribution. We suggest that colloidal nanocrystals take different pathways of growth based on their size- and morphology-dependent internal energies.

Aerotaxy, an aerosol-based growth method, is used to produce gallium arsenide nanowires with a growth rate of about 1 micrometre per second, which is 20 to 1,000 times higher than previously reported for traditional nanowires and allows sensitive and reproducible control of the nanowires’ optical and electronic properties. Tunable nanowires synthesized Nanowires hold promise for a variety of applications in electronics, energy and biomedical technologies. However, a major hurdle is the large-scale production of high-quality nanowires. In this paper, Lars Samuelson and colleagues develop a low-cost aerosol-based synthesis of gallium arsenide (GaAs) nanowires with throughput substantially better than achieved by conventional methods. The method produces high-quality nanowires with tunable dimensions, good optical properties and spectral uniformity. Semiconductor nanowires are key building blocks for the next generation of light-emitting diodes 1 , solar cells 2 and batteries 3 . To fabricate functional nanowire-based devices on an industrial scale requires an efficient methodology that enables the mass production of nanowires with perfect crystallinity, reproducible and controlled dimensions and material composition, and low cost. So far there have been no reports of reliable methods that can satisfy all of these requirements. Here we show how aerotaxy, an aerosol-based growth method 4 , can be used to grow nanowires continuously with controlled nanoscale dimensions, a high degree of crystallinity and at a remarkable growth rate. In our aerotaxy approach, catalytic size-selected Au aerosol particles induce nucleation and growth of GaAs nanowires with a growth rate of about 1 micrometre per second, which is 20 to 1,000 times higher than previously reported for traditional, substrate-based growth of nanowires made of group III–V materials 5 , 6 , 7 . We demonstrate that the method allows sensitive and reproducible control of the nanowire dimensions and shape—and, thus, controlled optical and electronic properties—through the variation of growth temperature, time and Au particle size. Photoluminescence measurements reveal that even as-grown nanowires have good optical properties and excellent spectral uniformity. Detailed transmission electron microscopy investigations show that our aerotaxy-grown nanowires form along one of the four equivalent 〈111〉B crystallographic directions in the zincblende unit cell, which is also the preferred growth direction for III–V nanowires seeded by Au particles on a single-crystal substrate. The reported continuous and potentially high-throughput method can be expected substantially to reduce the cost of producing high-quality nanowires and may enable the low-cost fabrication of nanowire-based devices on an industrial scale.

A novel porous nanosized humidity-sensing material of amine-functionalized titanium metal organic framework (MOF), NH 2 -MIL-125(Ti), was investigated. NH 2 -MIL-125(Ti) nanoparticles with high phase purity and good physicochemical property were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method. The nanosized MOF was characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope. The average size of the MOF nanoparticles is around 300 nm. Then NH 2 -MIL-125(Ti) humidity sensor was fabricated by coating the nanosized materials on interdigitated electrodes. The humidity sensor based on NH 2 -MIL-125(Ti) shows good linearity of RH (11–95 % RH), as well as fast response and recovery time. The RH detecting range is from 11 to 95 % RH at 100 Hz. The response and recovery time are about 45 and 50 s, respectively. Moreover, the sensing mechanism was discussed by complex impedance analysis in detail. These results indicate the potential application of NH 2 -MIL-125(Ti) in humidity sensors.

Bismuth-doped TiO 2 nanotubes (Bi-TNT) were successfully synthesized by combination of sol–gel and hydrothermal methods. The synthesized photocatalyst was efficiently used for degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) dye under direct sunlight irradiation. Subsequent characterization of synthesized photocatalysts was carried out using PXRD, SEM, TEM, EDX, FT-IR, Raman, N 2 adsorption, TPD-NH 3 , UV–Vis DRS, XRF and ICP techniques. The surface area of the TiO 2 nanoparticles increased after tubular structure formation (TiO 2 nanoparticles—114.21 m 2 /g, TiO 2 nanotube—191.93 m 2 /g). The degradation studies revealed that initial rate of photocatalytic degradation of RhB dye using Bi-TNT was 5.56, 4.16, 1.30 and 2.38 times higher as compared to TNP, Bi-TNP, TNT and Degussa P-25 TiO 2 (P-25), respectively, under direct sunlight irradiation. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of Bi-TNT may be due to the increase in the surface area and Bi doping, which leads to effective separation of photogenerated carriers. The degradation was confirmed by chemical oxygen demand, total organic carbon and total inorganic carbon analysis of the degraded dye solutions. The probable degradation mechanism of RhB dye has also been proposed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of degraded samples.

We report the synthesis of a new nanocrystal (NC) mesophase through self-assembly of water-soluble NC micelles with soluble silica. The mesophase comprises gold nanocrystals arranged within a silica matrix in a face-centered cubic lattice with cell dimensions that are adjustable through control of the nanocrystal diameter and/or the alkane chain lengths of the primary alkanethiol stabilizing ligands or the surrounding secondary surfactants. Under kinetically controlled silica polymerization conditions, evaporation drives self-assembly of NC micelles into ordered NC/silica thin-film mesophases during spin coating. The intermediate NC micelles are water soluble and of interest for biolabeling. Initial experiments on a metal-insulator-metal capacitor fabricated with an ordered three-dimensional gold nanocrystal/silica array as the \"insulator\" demonstrated collective Coulomb blockade behavior below 100 kelvin and established the current-voltage scaling relationship for a well-defined three-dimensional array of Coulomb islands.

In vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) growth, the liquid phase plays a pivotal role in mediating mass transport from the vapor source to the growth front of a nanowire. Such transport often takes place through the liquid phase. However, we observed by in situ transmission electron microscopy a different behavior for self-catalytic VLS growth of sapphire nanowires. The growth occurs in a layer-by-layer fashion and is accomplished by interfacial diffusion of oxygen through the ordered liquid aluminum atoms. Oscillatory growth and dissolution reactions at the top rim of the nanowires occur and supply the oxygen required to grow a new (0006) sapphire layer. A periodic modulation of the VLS triple-junction configuration accompanies these oscillatory reactions.