Guonian Wang

Catalytic synthesis and photoluminescence of β-Ga2O3 nanowires

Monoclinic gallium oxide (β-Ga2O3) nanowires were synthesized by heat treating a composite material of GaAs and pre-evaporated Au at 1240 °C in dry oxygen atmosphere. The catalytic Au metal generated liquid nanoclusters that serve as reactive sites confining and directing the growth of β-Ga2O3 nanowires during the vapor-liquid-solid growth process. The β-Ga2O3 nanowires have diameters ranging from 20 to 50 nm and lengths of several micrometers. Photoluminescence measurement under excitation at 250 nm shows that the bulk β-Ga2O3 nanowires have a stable blue emission at 475 nm and an ultraviolet emission at 330 nm, which may be related to the defects such as the oxygen vacancy and the gallium–oxygen vacancy pair.

Tensile tests of ropes of very long aligned multiwall carbon nanotubes

We have directly measured the Young’s modulus and tensile strength of multiwall carbon nanotubes by pulling very long (∼2 mm) aligned nanotube ropes with a specially designed stress-strain puller. This puller can apply an axial force to the rope and simultaneously measure the corresponding rope elongation and the change in rope resistance. The average Young’s modulus and tensile strength obtained were 0.45±0.23 TPa and 1.72±0.64 GPa, respectively, which are lower than those calculated and measured previously. The factors that affect the mechanical strengths of nanotubes are discussed.

Direct growth of aligned open carbon nanotubes by chemical vapor deposition

Abstract Open carbon nanotubes were directly obtained at a very high yield by pyrolysis of acetylene over iron/silica substrates. Scanning electron microscope images show that the nanotubes grow outwards perpendicularly and separately from the surface of the substrate and form an aligned nanotube array. The bottom ends of the tubes can be easily stripped off from the substrate and are found to be opened while the top ends are closed, as verified by transmission electron microscope. The tip growth of tubes might be responsible for the formation of open carbon nanotubes.

Synthesis and optical properties of S-doped ZnO nanowires

S-doped ZnO nanowires with an average diameter of 80 nm and length up to several tens of micrometers were produced through a simple physical evaporation approach. The nanowires had a single-crystal hexagonal structure and grew along the [102] direction. Photoluminescence (PL) measurements showed that the doping of sulfur shifted the PL spectrum peak towards short wavelengths, and the doping quantity was found responsible for the different characteristics.

Synthesis of α–SiO 2 nanowires using Au nanoparticle catalysts on a silicon substrate

The magnetic properties and the domain structure of anisotropic melt-spun SmCo6.5Zr0.5 alloys with C addition was investigated by means of x-ray diffraction (XRD), magnetic measurement, and magnetic force microscopy. The XRD analyses showed that the addition of a few percent of C led to a significant increase in the coercivity and simultaneously affected the characterization of crystalline texture of the ribbons. The easy magnetization c axis changed from parallel to the ribbon plane for SmCo6.5Zr0.5 ribbons to normal to the ribbon plane for SmCo6.5Zr0.5C0.25-0.75 ribbons. An optimal coercivity of 0.92 T was obtained for the SmCo6.5Zr0.5C0.5 ribbon spun at 5 m/s. The corresponding remanence measured normal or parallel to the ribbon plane was 7.1 kGs or 3.1 kGs, respectively. The domain structure was studied by magnetic force microscopey, A strip-shaped domain was observed on the surface of the SmCo6.5Zr0.5 ribbons and the walls lay straight and parallel. For C-doped ribbons, the domain walls formed a maze domain pattern of grains with c axis normal to the ribbon plane, Scanning electron micrographs showed that a dendrite structure was present in the SmCoZr ribbon surface, and C addition caused the above-mentioned dendrite to diminish.

Synthesis and photoluminescence properties of ZnMnS nanobelts

Mn-doped ZnS nanobelts have been prepared through a thermal evaporation method starting with a mixture of acetylacetonates and H2S at 900 °C. The nanobelts had a uniform single-crystal hexagonal wurtzite structure and grew along [001] direction. Undoped ZnS nanobelts and ZnMnS nanobelts with 1%, 3%, and 5% Mn so obtained have been characterized by x-ray diffraction, energy dispersive x-ray analysis, and photoluminescence (PL) spectra. PL measurements showed that the fluorescence efficiencies increased and the glow peaks shifted to longer wavelengths as the Mn-doped ratios increased, and the doping was found responsible for the changes in the defect-related emission of the ZnS nanobelts.

Evolution of nanoscale morphology on fracture surface of brittle metallic glass

The authors report the observations of periodic morphology evolution on fracture surface of a brittle metallic glassy ribbon, suggesting a wavy local stress intensity factor along the crack propagation. The authors find that the formation of nanoscale damage cavity structure is a common characteristic morphology on the fracture surfaces. On the surface of the hackle zone, these cavities assemble and generate the nanoscale swirling periodic corrugations. The elastic waves interfering with the plastic process zone on the crack front is proposed to explain such dynamic crack instability. The authors’ observations support the notion of an impinging effect of elastic waves on propagating crack front.

Growth of straight nanotubes with a cobalt-nickel catalyst by chemical vapor deposition

In this letter, we report the catalytic synthesis of a large amount of straight carbon nanotubes using a transition-metal cobalt–nickel/zeolite catalyst. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy images show that they are well graphitized. Raman spectrum shows its peak at 1349 cm−1 (D band) is much weaker than that at 1582 cm−1 (G band). We believe that straight carbon nanotubes contain much less defects than curved nanotubes and might have potential applications in the future.

Preparation and characterization of CdS nanoparticles by ultrasonic irradiation

Abstract Cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanoparticles of about 3 nm in diameter have been prepared by the sonochemical reduction of a mixed solution of cadmium chloride (CdCl2), sodium thiosulfate (Na2S2O3) and isopropyl alcohol ((CH3)2CHOH) in Ar atmosphere at room temperature. The CdS nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The formation mechanism of CdS nanoparticles is also discussed together with the optical absorption spectroscopy analysis. The method presented here can be used for the preparation of other sulfide nanoparticles.

Effects of the morphologies and structures of light-emitting layers on the performance of organic electroluminescent devices

Organic electroluminescent devices with a structure of ITO/ploy (9-vinylcarbazole)/tris (8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum (Alq3)/Mg:Ag are fabricated at different substrate temperatures (77, 298, and 438 K) during Alq3 deposition. It is found that the surface morphologies of Alq3 thin films greatly affect the I–V characteristics of the devices by the contact area between metal cathode and light-emitting layer. There is an increase in the luminous efficiency of the devices in the order 77 K<298 K<438 K. We attribute this trend to different structures of Alq3 thin films.