Adam J. Rondinone

Anomalous High Ionic Conductivity of Nanoporous β-Li3PS4

Lithium-ion-conducting solid electrolytes hold promise for enabling high-energy battery chemistries and circumventing safety issues of conventional lithium batteries. Achieving the combination of high ionic conductivity and a broad electrochemical window in solid electrolytes is a grand challenge for the synthesis of battery materials. Herein we show an enhancement of the room-temperature lithium-ion conductivity by 3 orders of magnitude through the creation of nanostructured Li(3)PS(4). This material has a wide electrochemical window (5 V) and superior chemical stability against lithium metal. The nanoporous structure of Li(3)PS(4) reconciles two vital effects that enhance the ionic conductivity: (1) the reduction of the dimensions to a nanometer-sized framework stabilizes the high-conduction β phase that occurs at elevated temperatures, and (2) the high surface-to-bulk ratio of nanoporous β-Li(3)PS(4) promotes surface conduction. Manipulating the ionic conductivity of solid electrolytes has far-reaching implications for materials design and synthesis in a broad range of applications, including batteries, fuel cells, sensors, photovoltaic systems, and so forth.

Synthesis of magnetic spinel ferrite CoFe2O4 nanoparticles from ferric salt and characterization of the size-dependent superparamagnetic properties

The CoFe2O4 nanoparticles have been synthesized by using a stable ferric salt of FeCl3 with a micellar microemulsion method. The normal micelles are formed by sodium dodecyl sulfate (NaDS) in aqueous solutions. The mean size of the nanoparticles can be controlled from less than 4 nm to about 10 nm through controlling the concentrations of the reagents. The neutron diffraction in combination with the Rietveld refinement shows that these CoFe2O4 nanoparticles have a high degree of inversion with 66% of the tetrahedral sublattice occupied by Fe3+. Magnetic measurements and neutron diffraction studies demonstrate the superparamagnetic nature of these CoFe2O4 nanoparticles. The size-dependent superparamagnetic properties of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles have also been systematically studied. The blocking temperature and coercive field of the nanoparticles increase with increasing size of the nanoparticles. The superparamagnetic behaviors of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles are consistent with the Stoner-Wohlfarth theory of single domain particles.

Synthesis of superparamagnetic MgFe2O4 nanoparticles by coprecipitation

MgFe2O4 nanoparticles have been synthesized by coprecipitation method. Magnetic measurements in combination with neutron diffraction have determined the existence of a superparamagnetic state in this metal oxide system. The superparamagnetic relaxation of magnetization in these nanoparticles has been studied by using Mossbauer spectroscopy. The relaxation time has been correlated with the particle size and temperature and is consistent with Neel theory.

Nanoscale thermometry via the fluorescence of YAG:Ce phosphor particles: measurements from 7 to 77?C

The laser-induced fluorescence lifetime of 30 nm particles of YAG:Ce was measured as a function of temperature from 7 to 77°C. The fluorescence decay lifetimes for the nanoparticles of this phosphor varied from ≈18 to 27 ns, i.e. ≈33% relative to the longest lifetime measured. This large variation in lifetime, coupled with the high signal strength that was observed, suggest that YAG:Ce nanoparticles will be useful thermographic phosphors. We describe the material and the apparatus used to characterize its fluorescence, present the results of measurements made over the range of temperatures tested and comment on some possible applications for this novel material.

Characterizing the magnetic anisotropy constant of spinel cobalt ferrite nanoparticles

Superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometry and Mossbauer spectroscopy have been combined to determine the magnetic anisotropy constant K of spinel CoFe2O4 nanoparticles. The anisotropy constant is 2.23×106 erg/cm3 for CoFe2O4 nanoparticles with a mean diameter of 8.5 nm. A relaxation-time constant of τ0=1.90×10−14 s has also been obtained. The magnetic anisotropy distribution function of the nanoparticles has been extracted from the temperature dependence of remanence decay in SQUID measurements. The population percentage of the superparamagnetically relaxed nanoparticles at each temperature can be calculated from this anisotropy distribution function. Such a population calculation from SQUID measurements can also fit the results from Mossbauer spectroscopic measurements even though these two measuring methods are fundamentally distinct. Such a successful fit implies that the anisotropy distribution function from our SQUID measurement is truly an intrinsic feature of the nanoparticles.

Correlating cation ordering and voltage fade in a lithium–manganese-rich lithium-ion battery cathode oxide: a joint magnetic susceptibility and TEM study

Structure-electrochemical property correlation is presented for lithium-manganese-rich layered-layered nickel manganese cobalt oxide (LMR-NMC) having composition Li1.2Co0.1Mn0.55Ni0.15O2 (TODA HE5050) in order to examine the possible reasons for voltage fade during short-to-mid-term electrochemical cycling. The Li1.2Co0.1Mn0.55Ni0.15O2 based cathodes were cycled at two different upper cutoff voltages (UCV), 4.2 V and 4.8 V, for 1, 10, and 125 cycles; voltage fade was observed after 10 and 125 cycles only when the UCV was 4.8 V. Magnetic susceptibility and selected-area electron diffraction data showed the presence of cation ordering in the pristine material, which remained after 125 cycles when the UCV was 4.2 V. When cycled at 4.8 V, the magnetic susceptibility results showed the suppression of cation ordering after one cycle; the cation ordering diminished upon further cycling and was not observed after 125 cycles. Selected-area electron diffraction data from oxides oriented towards the [0001] zone axis revealed a decrease in the intensity of cation-ordering reflections after one cycle and an introduction of spinel-type reflections after 10 cycles at 4.8 V; after 125 cycles, only the spinel-type reflections and the fundamental O3 layered oxide reflections were observed. A significant decrease in the effective magnetic moment of the compound after one cycle at 4.8 V indicated the presence of lithium and/or oxygen vacancies; analysis showed a reduction of Mn(4+) (high spin/low spin) in the pristine oxide to Mn(3+) (low spin) after one cycle. The effective magnetic moment was higher after 10 and 125 cycles at 4.8 V, suggesting the presence of Mn(3+) in a high spin state, which is believed to originate from distorted spinel (Li2Mn2O4) and/or spinel (LiMn2O4) compounds. The increase in effective magnetic moments was not observed when the oxide was cycled at 4.2 V, indicating the stability of the structure under these conditions. This study shows that structural rearrangements in the LMR-NMC oxide happen only at higher potentials (4.8 V, for example) and provides evidence of a direct correlation between cation ordering and voltage fade.

Gold coated lanthanide phosphate nanoparticles for targeted alpha generator radiotherapy.

Targeted radiotherapies maximize cytotoxicty to cancer cells. In vivo α-generator targeted radiotherapies can deliver multiple α particles to a receptor site dramatically amplifying the radiation dose delivered to the target. The major challenge with α-generator radiotherapies is that traditional chelating moieties are unable to sequester the radioactive daughters in the bioconjugate which is critical to minimize toxicity to healthy, non-target tissue. The recoil energy of the 225Ac daughters following α decay will sever any metal-ligand bond used to form the bioconjugate. This work demonstrates that an engineered multilayered nanoparticle-antibody conjugate can deliver multiple α radiations and contain the decay daughters of 225Ac while targeting biologically relevant receptors in a female BALB/c mouse model. These multi-shell nanoparticles combine the radiation resistance of lanthanide phosphate to contain 225Ac and its radioactive decay daughters, the magnetic properties of gadolinium phosphate for easy separation, and established gold chemistry for attachment of targeting moieties.

Support Shape Effect in Metal Oxide Catalysis: Ceria-Nanoshape-Supported Vanadia Catalysts for Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Isobutane

The support effect has long been an intriguing topic in catalysis research. With the advancement of nanomaterial synthesis, the availability of faceted oxide nanocrystals provides the opportunity to gain unprecedented insights into the support effect by employing these well-structured nanocrystals. In this Letter, we show by utilizing ceria nanoshapes as supports for vanadium oxide that the shape of the support poses a profound effect on the catalytic performance of metal oxide catalysts. Specifically, the activation energy of VOx/CeO2 catalysts in oxidative dehydrogenation of isobutane was found to be dependent on the shape of ceria support, rods < octahedra, closely related to the surface oxygen vacancy formation energy and the numbe of defects of the two ceria supports with different crystallographic surface planes.

The fate of MAb-targeted Cd125mTe/ZnS nanoparticles in vivo

INTRODUCTION Nanoparticles (NP) have potential as carriers for drugs and radioisotopes. Quantitative measures of NP biodistribution in vivo are needed to determine the effectiveness of these carriers. We have used a model system of radiolabeled quantum dots to document the competition between efficient vascular targeting and interaction of the NP with the reticuloendothelial (RE) system. METHODS We have prepared (125m)Te-labeled CdTe NP that are capped with ZnS. Te-125m has a half-life and decay characteristics very similar to those for (125)I. The synthesized particles are stable in aqueous solution and are derivatized with mercaptoacetic acid and then conjugated with specific antibody. To evaluate specific targeting, we used the monoclonal antibody MAb 201B that binds to murine thrombomodulin expressed in the lumen of lung blood vessels. The MAb-targeted NP were tested for targeting performance in vivo using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/computed tomography (CT) imaging, tissue autoradiography and standard organ biodistribution techniques. Biodistribution was also determined in mice that had been depleted of phagocytic cells by use of clodronate-loaded liposomes. RESULTS Cd(125m)Te/ZnS NP coupled with MAb 201B retained radioisotope and antibody activity and accumulated in lung (>400% injected dose [ID]/g) within 1 h of intravenous injection. Control antibody-coupled NP did not accumulate in lung (<10% ID/g) but accumulated in liver and spleen. Images from microSPECT/CT and autoradiography studies of the targeted NP document this specific uptake and demonstrate uniform distribution in lung with minor accumulation in liver and spleen. Within a few hours, a large fraction of lung-targeted NP redistributed to spleen and liver or was excreted. We hypothesized that NP attract phagocytic cells that engulfed and removed them from circulation. This was confirmed by comparing biodistribution of targeted NP in normal mice versus those depleted of phagocytic cells. In mice treated with clodronate liposomes, accumulation of NP in liver was reduced by fivefold, while accumulation in lung at 1 h was enhanced by approximately 50%. By 24 h, loss of the targeted NP from lung was inhibited by several-fold, while accumulation in liver and spleen remained constant. Thus, the treated mice had a much larger accumulation and retention of the NP at the target site and a decrease in dose to other organs except spleen. CONCLUSION Nanoparticles composed of CdTe, labeled with (125m)Te and capped with ZnS, can be targeted with MAb to sites in the lumen of lung vasculature. In clodronate-treated mice, which have a temporary depletion of phagocytic cells, accumulation in liver was reduced dramatically, whereas that in spleen was not. The targeting to lung was several-fold more efficient in clodronate-treated mice due to larger initial accumulation and better retention of the MAb-targeted NP at that site. This model system indicates that targeting of NP preparations is a competition between the effectiveness of the targeting agent and the natural tendency for RE uptake of the particles. Temporary inhibition of the RE system may enhance the usefulness of NP for drug and radioisotope delivery.

LaPO4 nanoparticles doped with actinium-225 that partially sequester daughter radionuclides.

Nanoscale materials have been envisioned as carriers for various therapeutic drugs, including radioisotopes. Inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) are particularly appealing vehicles for targeted radiotherapy because they can package several radioactive atoms into a single carrier and can potentially retain daughter radioisotopes produced by in vivo generators such as actinium-225 ((225)Ac, t(1/2) = 10 d). Decay of this radioisotope to stable bismuth-209 proceeds through a chain of short-lived daughters accompanied by the emission of four α-particles that release >27 MeV of energy. The challenge in realizing the enhanced cytotoxic potential of in vivo generators lies in retaining the daughter nuclei at the therapy site. When (225)Ac is attached to targeting agents via standard chelate conjugation methods, all of the daughter radionuclides are released after the initial α-decay occurs. In this work, (225)Ac was incorporated into lanthanum phosphate NPs to determine whether the radioisotope and its daughters would be retained within the dense mineral lattice. Further, the (225)Ac-doped NPs were conjugated to the monoclonal antibody mAb 201B, which targets mouse lung endothelium through the vasculature, to ascertain the targeting efficacy and in vivo retention of radioisotopes. Standard biodistribution techniques and microSPECT/CT imaging of (225)Ac as well as the daughter radioisotopes showed that the NPs accumulated rapidly in mouse lung after intravenous injection. By showing that excess, competing, uncoupled antibodies or NPs coupled to control mAbs are deposited primarily in the liver and spleen, specific targeting of NP-mAb 201B conjugates was demonstrated. Biodistribution analysis showed that ∼30% of the total injected dose of La((225)Ac)PO(4) NPs accumulated in mouse lungs 1 h postinjection, yielding a value of % ID/g >200. Furthermore, after 24 h, 80% of the (213)Bi daughter produced from (225)Ac decay was retained within the target organ and (213)Bi retention increased to ∼87% at 120 h. In vitro analyses, conducted over a 1 month interval, demonstrated that ∼50% of the daughters were retained within the La((225)Ac)PO(4) NPs at any point over that time frame. Although most of the γ-rays from radionuclides in the (225)Ac decay chain are too energetic to be captured efficiently by SPECT detectors, appropriate energy windows were found that provided dramatic microSPECT images of the NP distribution in vivo. We conclude that La((225)Ac)PO(4)-mAb 201B conjugates can be targeted efficiently to mouse lung while partially retaining daughter products and that targeting can be monitored by biodistribution techniques and microSPECT imaging.