Self-assembled bismuth nanocrystallites

Plate-Like Colloidal Metal Nanoparticles

The pseudo-two-dimensional (2D) morphology of plate-like metal nanoparticles makes them one of the most anisotropic, mechanistically understood, and tunable structures available. Although well-known for their superior plasmonic properties, recent progress in the 2D growth of various other materials has led to an increasingly diverse family of plate-like metal nanoparticles, giving rise to numerous appealing properties and applications. In this review, we summarize recent progress on the solution-phase growth of colloidal plate-like metal nanoparticles, including plasmonic and other metals, with an emphasis on mechanistic insights for different synthetic strategies, the crystallographic habits of different metals, and the use of nanoplates as scaffolds for the synthesis of other derivative structures. We additionally highlight representative self-assembly techniques and provide a brief overview on the attractive properties and unique versatility benefiting from the 2D morphology. Finally, we share our opinions on the existing challenges and future perspectives for plate-like metal nanomaterials.

Ultimate figures of merit broadband self-powered obliquely deposited antimony thin film laser detectors

Fabrication of a fast and high detectivity infrared detector operating at room temperature represents a big challenge. Due to the small energy gap of the semiconducting materials used for infrared detectors, the noise becomes considerable factor and the possibility of operating the detector at room temperature is very limited. A study of the figures of merit antimony thin films detector grown by oblique angle deposition technique is presented. Polycrystalline antimony thin films were thermally evaporated on the glass substrates at a angles of 0, 10, 30, and70°. The aim was to develop a wideband (0.649–10.6) µm self-powered laser detectors; operating at room temperature. The deposition angle had a decisive role in the detector specifications, namely, its detectivity, responsivity, linearity, and response time. At θ = 70° deposition angle; maximum detectivity and fastest response were achieved. The variation of rise time with deposition angle was linear, and the rise time was around 50 ns at 70°. The antimony detectors showed about the same specific detectivity ~ 10⁹ Jones at 300 k for the wavelength range of 1.064–10.6 µm.

Comprehensive Study on Lemon Juice-Based Green Synthesis and Catalytic Activity of Bismuth Nanoparticles

Bismuth nanoparticles have gained considerable interest in catalysis because of their small size, large surface-to-volume ratio, and low toxicity. In spite of these advantages, the toxic reagents and solvents used in the synthetic process are significant limitations to their development and utilization. In this study, a green approach employing easily accessible lemon juice was applied for the synthesis of bismuth nanoparticles (BiNPs) as a green alternative to conventional chemical ones. This study clarified the formation and growing process of green-synthesized BiNPs using lemon juice as a reducing and capping agent. The reaction time and amounts of lemon juice significantly affect the growth, morphology, and stability of BiNPs, as confirmed from XRD, DLS, SEM, and TEM analyses. The synthesized BiNPs effectively catalyzed the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol in the presence of NaBH₄, and the reduction was significantly accelerated by sunlight and the removal of the fibrous coating layer around BiNPs. Moreover, the synthesized BiNPs also show excellent catalytic efficacy toward the reduction of organic dyes, namely, methyl orange, methylene blue, and rhodamine B. All catalytic reductions followed the pseudo-first-order kinetics, and the rate constants are in the order of k _MB > k _RhB > k _MO > k _4-NP. The stated biogenic synthetic route paves the way for the green industrial fabrication of BiNPs and their uses in catalysis for wastewater treatment.

Green synthesis of crystalline bismuth nanoparticles using lemon juice

Lemon juice effectively served as a reducing and capping agent for an easy, cost-effective, and green synthesis of crystalline bismuth nanoparticles (BiNPs) in basic aqueous media. Spherical BiNPs with a rhombohedral crystalline structure are capped by phytochemicals and stably dispersible in aqueous media. The BiNPs effectively catalyze the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol by NaBH₄.

Lemon juice effectively served as a reducing and capping agent for an easy, cost-effective, and green synthesis of crystalline bismuth nanoparticles (BiNPs) in basic aqueous media.

Facile Synthesis of Uniform-Sized Bismuth Nanoparticles for CT Visualization of Gastrointestinal Tract in Vivo

High-performance and biocompatible contrast agents are the key to accurate diagnosis of various diseases in vivo via CT imaging. Fabrication of pure Bi nanoparticles is the best way to maximize X-ray absorption efficiency due to the ultrahigh X-ray attenuation ability of Bi and 100% content of Bi element. However, high-quality Bi nanoparticles prepared through a facile strategy are still lacking. Herein, we report a simple noninjection method to fabricate uniformly sized pure Bi nanoparticles using only two commercial reagents by simply heating the mixture of raw materials in a short time. The obtained Bi nanoparticles owned highly uniform size, excellent monodispersity, and impressive antioxidant capacity. After being modified with oligosaccharide, the "sweet" Bi nanoprobe with comfortable patient experience and favorable biocompatibility was successfully used in CT visualization of gastrointestinal tract in detail.

Controlled synthesis of truncated octahedral bismuth micron particles with giant positive magnetoresistance

Micron-sized truncated octahedral bismuth crystals with promising giant magnetoresistance were prepared by a facile solvothermal method in a highly alkaline media system.

Cobalt-assisted in situ synthesis of crystalline bismuth nanoparticle arrays

Almost monodisperse, crystalline Bi nanoparticle arrays were synthesized using a newly developed method, magnetically assisted growth of Bi nanoparticles (MAGBINs). The MAGBIN utilizes co-sputtering from Bi and Co targets at an elevated temperature. Crystalline Bi nanoparticles with hexagonal morphology were formed in situ on a Si substrate with a thin surface oxide during this process. The size and density of Bi nanoparticles could be controlled by adjusting the relative powers applied to Bi and Co targets, and they showed opposite trends against the relative powers. Several physical processes such as Co agglomeration, element-selective growth, and Ostwald ripening were proposed to be involved in this Bi nanoparticle growth. The MAGBIN is a facile method to synthesize crystalline Bi nanoparticle arrays, which does not need any chemical agents, complex process, or lithography.

Synthesis and Properties of Lead Selenide Nanocrystal Solids

We present results of our investigation of the synthesis, structural properties and electrical transport properties of lead selenide (PbSe) nanoparticle-derived solids. Stable colloidal solutions containing crystalline PbSe particles with sizes on the order of 5-10 nm were synthesized using an organometallic lyothermal growth method in high-temperature organic solvents (100∼200 °C). The nanoparticle powders have been characterized by X-ray scattering (WAXS/SAXS), electron microscopy and optical absorption. Thin lms were formed by controlled precipitation of the nanoparticles from solution onto insulating substrates. Electrical resistance (R) and Seebeck coecient (S) for conductive PbSe lms from dierent annealing conditions were studied and compared. We were able to obtain conductive PbSe lms from colloids by low temperature annealing which did not disturb the nanoparticle self-assembly.

Colloidal Preparation of γ-Fe2O3@Au [core@shell] Nanoparticles

γ-Fe2O3@Au core-shell nanoparticles were prepared through a combined route, in which high temperature organic solution synthesis and colloidal microemulsion techniques were successively applied. High magnification of TEM reveals the core-shell structure. The presence of Au on the surface of as-prepared particles is also confirmed by UV-Vis absorption. The magnetic core-shell nanoparticles offer a promising application in bio- and medical systems.

Shape-controlled synthesis of metal nanocrystals: simple chemistry meets complex physics?

Nanocrystals are fundamental to modern science and technology. Mastery over the shape of a nanocrystal enables control of its properties and enhancement of its usefulness for a given application. Our aim is to present a comprehensive review of current research activities that center on the shape-controlled synthesis of metal nanocrystals. We begin with a brief introduction to nucleation and growth within the context of metal nanocrystal synthesis, followed by a discussion of the possible shapes that a metal nanocrystal might take under different conditions. We then focus on a variety of experimental parameters that have been explored to manipulate the nucleation and growth of metal nanocrystals in solution-phase syntheses in an effort to generate specific shapes. We then elaborate on these approaches by selecting examples in which there is already reasonable understanding for the observed shape control or at least the protocols have proven to be reproducible and controllable. Finally, we highlight a number of applications that have been enabled and/or enhanced by the shape-controlled synthesis of metal nanocrystals. We conclude this article with personal perspectives on the directions toward which future research in this field might take.

Size control of semimetal bismuth nanoparticles and the UV-visible and IR absorption spectra

We introduced a simple chemical method to synthesize semimetal bismuth nanoparticles in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) by reducing Bi(3+) with sodium borohydride (NaBH(4)) in the presence of poly(vinylpyrroldone) (PVP) at room temperature. The size and dispersibility of Bi nanoparticles can be easily controlled by changing the synthetic conditions such as the molar ratio of PVP to BiCl(3) and the concentration of BiCl(3). The UV-visible absorption spectra of Bi nanoparticles of different diameters are systematically studied. The surface plasmon peaks broaden with the increasing molar ratio of PVP to BiCl(3) as the size of bismuth nanoparticles decreases. Infrared (IR) spectra of the complexes with different molar ratios of PVP/BiCl(3) show a strong interaction between the carboxyl oxygen (C=O) of PVP and Bi(3+) ion and a weak interaction between the carboxyl oxygen (C=O) of PVP and the Bi atom in nanoparticles. This indicates that PVP serves as an effective capping ligand, which prevents the nanoparticles from aggregation.

Shape control of single crystalline bismuth nanostructures

A synthesis approach for shape control of single crystalline Bi nanostructures has been developed. By controlling the molar ratio of PVP and Bi in a polyol process, Bi nanocubes with an edge length of approximately 60-80 nm, triangular nanoplates with an edge length of 200-500 nm, and nanospheres with an average diameter of 75 nm have been successfully synthesized. In the same synthetic process, Bi nanobelts with lengths of up to 80 microm and widths of up to 0.6 microm were synthesized in large quantities by introducing a trace amount of Fe3+ species into the reaction system. These single crystalline nanostructure Bi materials are expected to find potential applications in a variety of areas including high efficiency thermoelectric devices.

Spindly cobalt ferrite nanocrystals: preparation, characterization and magnetic properties

In this paper we describe the preparation of homogeneously needle-shaped cobalt ferrite (CoFe(2)O(4)) nanocrystals on a large scale through the smooth decomposition of urea and the resulting co-precipitation of Co(2+) and Fe(3+) in oleic acid micelles. Furthermore, we found that other ferrite nanocrystals with a needle-like shape, such as zinc ferrite (ZnFe(2)O(4)) and nickel ferrite (NiFe(2)O(4)), can be prepared by the same process. Needle-shaped CoFe(2)O(4) nanocrystals dispersed in an aqueous solution containing oleic acid exhibit excellent stability and the formed colloid does not produce any precipitations after two months, which is of prime importance if these materials are applied in magnetic fluids. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements were used to characterize the phase and component of the co-precipitation products, and demonstrate that they are spinel ferrite with a cubic symmetry. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation showed that all the nanocrystals present a needle-like shape with a 22 nm short axis and an aspect ratio of around 6. Varying the concentration of oleic acid did not bring about any obvious influence on the size distribution and shapes of CoFe(2)O(4). The magnetic properties of the needle-shaped CoFe(2)O(4) nanocrystals were evaluated by using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and a Mössbauer spectrometer, and the results all demonstrated that CoFe(2)O(4) nanocrystals were superparamagnetic at room temperature.

Organometallic based strategies for metal nanocrystal synthesis

Organometallic strategies normally employed for the production of semiconductor quantum dots have been successfully applied to the synthesis of metal nanoparticles. By controlling parameters such as capping agents, reaction temperature and precursor chemistry, precise nanostructures can be obtained that exhibit highly desirable magnetic, optical and catalytic properties.