Sharif Digital Repository

We have studied systematically photocatalytic properties of the vertically aligned ZnO@CdS core-shell nanorods where the features were grown through a multistep procedure including sol-gel for the formation of ZnO seed layer, hydrothermal process to grow ZnO nanorods, and successive ion layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) process to deposit CdS nanoshells onto the ZnO nanorods. Formation of the ZnO seed layer and vertically aligned ZnO nanorods (d ∼ 40 nm) with a hexagonal cross-section was confirmed by AFM and SEM imaging. Successful capping of ZnO nanorods with homogeneous CdS nanocrystallites (∼5 nm) was ascertained by HRTEM diffraction and imaging. Optical properties of the samples... 

TiO2 nanoparticles supported on activated carbon (AC) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were prepared by the sol-gel method using ultrasonic irradiation. All the prepared samples were calcined at different temperatures and characterized by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The effects of size and type of carbon on the morphology and photocatalytic activity of the resulting hybrid materials were investigated. The results showed that a decrease in the size of the carbon led to a decrease in size of TiO2 nanoparticles. Both AC and MWCNTs retarded the... 

CdS/TiO2/graphene (CTG) nanocomposite thin films were synthesized by a facile production route. The TiO2/graphene (TG) nanocomposite was initially fabricated by sol-gel method in such a way that TiO2 nanoparticles loaded on graphene oxide (GO) sheet via photocatalytic process. Then, CdS nanoparticles were deposited on the TG thin film by successive ion layer adsorption and reaction process (SILAR) approach. Based on atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses, the TG thin film possessed a larger surface area as compared with the pure TiO2 thin film due to presence of graphene sheet. UV/visible spectroscopy exhibited... 

The Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/WO3 nanocomposite thin films with different MWCNT's weight percentages were prepared by sol-gel method as visible light induced photoanode in water splitting reaction. Weight percentage of MWCNT in the all nanocomposite thin films was confirmed by TGA/DSC analysis. According to XPS analysis, oxygenated groups at the surface of the MWCNT and stoichiometric formation of WO3 thin films were determined, while the crystalline structure of the nanocomposite samples was studied by XRD indicating (0 0 2) peak of MWCNT in the monoclinic phase of WO3. The influence of different weight percentage (wt%) of MWCNT on WO3 photoactivity showed that the electron... 

BiVO4/Graphene/TiO2 as a novel nanocomposite photoanode was designed, synthesized and characterized for photoelectrochemical application. BiVO4/Graphene nanocomposite was initially synthesized by photocatalytic process and then, BiVO4/Graphene/TiO2 nanocomposite thin film was prepared by deposition of the BiVO4/Graphene solution onto the surface of sol-gel derived TiO2 thin film. Morphology, crystal structure, surface chemical composition and optical properties of the synthesized BiVO4/Graphene/TiO2 nanocomposite thin film were characterized and compared with the BiVO4/Graphene and pure TiO2 samples. Observations of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed that the surface of the... 

Ce-doped ZnO nanocomposite thin films with Ce/Zn ratio fixed at optimum value (10 at.%) have been prepared via sol-gel method at different annealing temperatures varied from 180 to 500 °C. The synthesized samples were characterized employing atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. According to AFM analysis, the average grain size increased from about 70 nm to 150 nm by increasing the annealing temperature from 300 to 500 °C. Moreover, based on the XPS data analysis, it was found that three major metal ions namely Ce 3+, Ce4+, and Zn2+ coexist on the surface of the nanocomposite films. XPS data analysis also revealed that... 

Ce-doped ZnO and pure ZnO nanocomposite thin films with different Ce/Zn ratios (0, 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 at.%) have been prepared by sol-gel method at optimum annealing temperature of 500 °C. The synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and UV-vis spectrophotometry. According to our XPS data analysis, there are three major metal ions namely Ce3+, Ce4+ and Zn 2+ that coexist on the surface. The XRD measurements indicate that the ZnO thin films have a hexagonal wurtzite structure, and CeO2 crystallites formed in the Ce-doped ZnO nanocomposite thin films. Photoelectrochemical property of the samples was studied by three... 

In this study, a noble robust superhydrophobic and highly oleophobic polyurethane (PU)–SiO2 nanoparticle (NP) coating is specially designed using sol-gel process. For this purpose the effective parameters on surface tension and durability of the synthesized coating investigated and optimized. This new superhydrophobic and highly oleophobic coating exhibits good pensile hardness as high as 6H with adhesive force grade of 5B and repels water and oil with contact angles (CAs) of 159° and 140° respectively. The synthesized PU-SiO2 composite also retains an excellent amphiphobicity after a 7 days immersion in water with water and oil with CAs of 150° and 130°. Facile fabrication of PU–SiO2... 

In this study, a novle robust antistatic waterborne polyurethane (WBPU)-ZrO2 nanoparticle (NP) coating is specially designed using sol-gel process. For this purpose the effective parameters on resin performance and surface resistivity of the synthesized coating investigated and optimized. The WBPU composite containing 6 wt% ZrO2 NPs, dissipates electrostaic charges with surface resistivity of 9.1 × 109 Ω sq−1 and also improves adhesion strength about 30 % compared with neat resin. Moreover, the homogenous distribution of modified ZrO2 NPs provides a surface roughness of 27.0 nm which can avoid the absorption of dust on the surface. Facile fabrication of robust WBPU–ZrO2 coating with... 

A developed route to form TiO2 self cleaning coatings on polycarbonate substrates is reported. TiO2 coatings on plastics may find widespread application in auto and construction industries if possess desired photocatalytic and mechanical properties. A chemical surface treatment method was used to create hydrophilic groups on the surface. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed the treatment led to the oxidation of surface groups. TiO2 deposition was based on wet coating using an anatase sol of TiO2 nanoparticles of 30 nm size. The sol was synthesized using a sol-gel route. A pre-coat of peroxotitanium complex was employed to improve adhesion and inhibit the substrate degradation. The coating... 

In this study, ZnO nanoparticles with 3 to 4 nm size and spherical shape have been prepared. For the first time, TEA (triethanolamine) as a surfactant has been used for the preparation of ZnO nanoparticles. The best concentration of each component was adjusted through comparison between different sol absorption spectra. The best sol regarding its optical property was subjected to analysis by photoluminescence spectroscopy. TEM micrograph and electron diffraction pattern of these particles were obtained to represent the morphology and crystalline phase of the particles, respectively. Experimental results have shown that the prepared zinc oxide nanoparticles by this method have higher... 

Ferrite nanocrystals are an interesting material due to their rich physical properties. Here we add nonmagnetic dopants Zn and Cu to nickel ferrite nanocrystals, Ni1-xMxFe2O4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1, M = Cu, Zn), and study how relevant properties of the samples are modified accordingly. Basically, these dopings cause a rearrangement of Fe +3 ions into the two preexisting octahedral and tetrahedral sites. In fact, this, we show, induces pertinent magnetic properties of the doped samples. In the case of the Cu-doping, the Jahn-Teller effect also emerges, which we identify through the Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy of the samples. Moreover, we show an increase in the lattice parameters of the... 

A novel glucose biosensor based on chromophore (silver nanoparticles) decolorizing for the photometric determination of glucose was developed. Silver nanoparticles are directly synthesized in the sol-gel matrix by a one-step method based on the reduction of the inorganic precursor AgNO3 and were used for the preparation, characterization and calibration of a highly sensitive and cost-effective localized surface plasmon resonance-based glucose biosensor. In the presence of glucose oxidase (GOx) and due to the enzyme-substrate (glucose) reaction, H2O2 was produced and silver nanoparticles in the sol-gel glass have the ability for the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. Due to the degradation... 

Dye sensitizers loaded on TiO2 decrease the electron excitation energy, thereby improving the photocatalytic performance by causing an increase in sensitivity under visible light irradiation. Three dye sensitizer precursors, Mordant Orange 1, N3 (red dye) and Cobalt (II) Phthalocyanine Tetrasulfonate (CoPcTs), were utilized to load the photocatalyst. The rate of the electron trapping process on platinum is clearly compatible with the migration rate of boundary electrons. Consequently, the migration of boundary electrons from the conduction band towards electron acceptors is increased by loading platinum onto the titanium dioxide. In this research, TiO2 was synthesized from a titanium... 

ZnO nanoparticles were fabricated via hydrothermal method and an amorphous TiO2 layer was then coated on the nanoparticles via sol-gel route. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies showed that the synthesized ZnO nanoparticles were hexagonal with wurtzite structure and an average particle size of 38 nm. The thickness of the titanium oxide layer was determined to be 20-40 nm. The photocatalytic decolorization of Methylene blue under UV irradiation indicated that as-prepared TiO 2-capped ZnO is inferior than ZnO particles. Nevertheless, calcinations of the particles at 350 °C for 24 h significantly improved the photo-activity of the ZnO/TiO2 core/shell... 

Anti-reflection and self-cleaning coatings on the glass substrate are used to improve the performance of solar systems. TiO2 are one of the most used semiconductors for this application. In this research meso-porous TiO2 coatings (that synthesized by the sol-gel process) with the various extent of porosity (using different concentrations of Pluronic F127, as pore-forming agent) have been investigated. The coating's thickness and porosity and anti-reflective properties were studied by FE-SEM and UV/VIS spectrometer (transmission spectra test), respectively. It was found that the use of F127 leads to the formation of pores smaller than 30 nm and increases the surface roughness from 1.5 (for... 

In the present study, the effects of Sr and Mg were investigated on mechanical and biological properties of 58S bioactive glass (BG). SiO2-P2O5-CaO BG with different contents of Sr and Mg were synthesized via the sol-gel method and immersed in simulated body fluid (SBF) for several days to explore their biocompatibility. Precise analyses of the BG using X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy showed that the Mg-doped BG containing 8 wt % MgO possessed better biocompatibility. It was also found that mechanical properties of the BG could be improved by increasing the amounts of MgO and SrO. Both 5Sr-BG and 8Mg-BG samples did not exhibit any... 

Inclusion of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into the titanium dioxide coating on 1050 aluminium alloy was studied with the aim at enhancing the corrosion resistance of the surface. Composite coatings with various contents of CNTs were prepared via the sol-gel method and dip coating. XRD and FTIR phase and structural evaluations showed the presence of anatase phase in all thin films. Concomitant enhanced corrosion behaviour in the presence of CNTs was resulted from polarization potentiodynamic test. Band-gap evaluation was performed using absorbance spectra of coatings and showed considerable decrease of band-gap energy in the presence of CNTs. Photocatalytic properties and hydrophilicity of... 

Hydrolysis of titanium isopropoxide alcoholic solution has been used to prepare the crystallized TiO2 nanoparticles at low temperature. Concentration ratio was used to control the pathway of sol-gel process and change the physical characteristics of TiO2 nanopowders. The crystallinity, morphology and size of aged TiO2 nanopowders were studied by X-ray diffraction and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). FTIR and, Thermo-Gravimetric (TG) analysis were used to identify the functional groups and thermal behavior of prepared samples. Experimental results have shown that high crystalline TiO2 nanomaterial with anatase polymorph can be obtained at room temperature. It has been found that the... 

Herein, enhancement of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) performance is reported by combining the merits of the dye loading of TiO2 nanoparticles and light scattering, straight carrier transport path, and efficient electron collection efficiency of TiO2 cubes. We fabricate DSC devices with various arrangement styles and compositions of the electrodes in the forms of monolayer and double layer films. For this purpose, the solvothermal synthesized TiO2 cubic particles (100-600 nm) are employed as the scattering layer, whereas TiO2 nanoparticles (15-30 nm) synthesized via a combination of solvothermal and sol-gel routes are used as the active layer of devices. We improve the photovoltaic...