Hynd Remita

Radiation-induced synthesis of mono- and multi-metallic clusters and nanocolloids

This review is devoted to metal cluster synthesis in solution via radiolytic reduction of ionic precursors under the proper conditions. The size and structure of the final particles are described in relation to the nucleation and growth mechanism of the process with a special interest in oligomers and nanometric-sized particles. The influence of either a polymeric surfactant or a ligand or a support is described. The role of a chemical electron donor in the development of cluster size is explained. Particular attention is paid to the formation of bimetallic clusters and to the synthesis conditions required to obtain either a core-shell or an alloyed structure in relation to a possible intermetal electron transfer.

Conducting polymer nanostructures for photocatalysis under visible light

Visible-light-responsive photocatalysts can directly harvest energy from solar light, offering a desirable way to solve energy and environment issues. Here, we show that one-dimensional poly(diphenylbutadiyne) nanostructures synthesized by photopolymerization using a soft templating approach have high photocatalytic activity under visible light without the assistance of sacrificial reagents or precious metal co-catalysts. These polymer nanostructures are very stable even after repeated cycling. Transmission electron microscopy and nanoscale infrared characterizations reveal that the morphology and structure of the polymer nanostructures remain unchanged after many photocatalytic cycles. These stable and cheap polymer nanofibres are easy to process and can be reused without appreciable loss of activity. Our findings may help the development of semiconducting-based polymers for applications in self-cleaning surfaces, hydrogen generation and photovoltaics.

Platinum nanoparticles: a promising material for future cancer therapy?

Recently, the use of gold nanoparticles as potential tumor selective radiosensitizers has been proposed as a breakthrough in radiotherapy. Experiments in living cells and in vivo have demonstrated the efficiency of the metal nanoparticles when combined with low energy x-ray radiations (below conventional 1 MeV Linac radiation). Further studies on DNA have been performed in order to better understand the fundamental processes of sensitization and to further improve the method. In this work, we propose a new strategy based on the combination of platinum nanoparticles with irradiation by fast ions effectively used in hadron therapy. It is observed in particular that nanoparticles enhance strongly lethal damage in DNA, with an efficiency factor close to 2 for double strand breaks. In order to disentangle the effect of the nano-design architecture, a comparison with the effects of dispersed metal atoms at the same concentration has been performed. It is thus shown that the sensitization in nanoparticles is enhanced due to auto-amplified electronic cascades inside the nanoparticles, which reinforces the energy deposition in the close vicinity of the metal. Finally, the combination of fast ion radiation (hadron therapy) with platinum nanoparticles should strongly improve cancer therapy protocols.

Radiation-induced and chemical formation of gold clusters

The kinetics of the γ-radiolytical or chemical reduction of AuIII Cl4-, or of the combination of both methods, is followed as a function of the experimental conditions through the time evolution of the surface plasmon spectrum of the gold nanoparticles formed or of their sizes as observed by AFM imaging. It appears from the discussion on the mechanism that even with the strongly reducing radiolytic radicals, the low valency AuI ions are somewhat protected by the more concentrated AuIII ions from reduction, up to a ratio of AuI/AuIII=1, and are stabilized for hours, unless clusters or 2-propanol (or PVA, but more slowly) catalyze their disproportionation. The cluster concentration increases correlatively with the dose.2-Propanol or PVA are mild reducing agents and are unable to reduce AuIII directly except at the surface of clusters, previously formed, for instance, by partial radiolytic reduction. In this case, the cluster concentration remains the same but the size obtained after reduction by the alcohol increases slowly with time up to 100–500 nm, as in a development process. In order to avoid the relative extent of this development, associated with chemical reduction and even with the direct γ-reduction of AuIII, in particular the AuI disproportionation and reduction steps, high dose rate radiolysis has been used up to total reduction of the same solutions. The mechanism of reduction and growth, step-by-step, is discussed.

Supramolecular Self-Assembly of Amphiphiles on Carbon Nanotubes: A Versatile Strategy for the Construction of CNT/Metal Nanohybrids, Application to Electrocatalysis

Homogeneous coating of carbon nanotubes with metallic nanoparticles was achieved using supramolecular auto-organization of amphiphilic molecules as template. The resulting Pd nanoparticles/carbon nanotube nanohybrids were then evaluated in electrocatalysis experiments, showing superior activity in ethanol oxidation compared to analogous systems.

Enhanced yield of photoinduced electrons in doped silver halide crystals

The conventional photographic process involves several steps: the photogeneration of electron–hole pairs in crystals of a silver halide; the reduction of silver cations to atoms by some fraction of these electrons; the subsequent build up of atoms to give clusters (the ‘latent image’); and the complete reduction by a developer of crystallites having more than a critical number of silver atoms per cluster. The effective quantum yield, Φeff, of photoinduced electron–hole pairs produced per photon absorbed is less than the theoretical limit (Φtheory = 1), because of the fast recombination of some fraction of the pairs. Here we describe an approach for enhancing the yield of useful photogenerated electrons, in which the silver halide is doped with formate ions, HCO-2. The dopant ions act as hole scavengers, thus enhancing the escape of electrons from pair recombination. Moreover, the resulting CO[supbolddot]-2 radical can itself transfer an electron to another silver cation, so raising the theoretical yield to two silver atoms per photon absorbed. This photoinduced bielectronic transfer mechanism is strictly proportional to the light quanta absorbed—the dopant ions do not induce spontaneous reduction of silver cations in the dark—and appears to be close to the theoretical limit of efficiency. The efficiency is constant at all illumination levels and applies to both dye-sensitized and unsensitized crystals. We suggest that this approach is a promising route for improving the performance of photographic emulsions.

Modification of TiO2 by Bimetallic Au-Cu Nanoparticles for Wastewater Treatment

Au, Cu and bimetallic Au-Cu nanoparticles were synthesized on the surface of commercial TiO2 compounds (P25) by reduction of the metal precursors with tetrakis (hydroxymethyl) phosphonium chloride (THPC) (0.5 % in weight). The alloyed structure of Au-Cu NPs was confirmed by HAADF-STEM, EDS, HRTEM and XPS techniques. The photocatalytic properties of the modified TiO2 have been studied for phenol photodegradation in aqueous suspensions under UV-visible irradiation. The modification by the metal nanoparticles induces an increase in the photocatalytic activity. The highest photocatalytic activity is obtained with Au-Cu/TiO2 (Au/Cu 1:3). Their electronic properties have been studied by time resolved microwave conductivity (TRMC) to follow the charge-carrier dynamics. TRMC measurements show that the TiO2 modification with Au, Cu and Au-Cu nanoparticles plays a role in charge-carrier separations increasing the activity under UV-light. Indeed, the metal nanoparticles act as a sink for electron, decreasing the charge carrier recombination. The TRMC measurements show also that the bimetallic Au-Cu nanoparticles are more efficient in electron scavenging than the monometallic Au and Cu ones.

Enhanced photocatalytic, electrochemical and photoelectrochemical properties of TiO2 nanotubes arrays modified with Cu, AgCu and Bi nanoparticles obtained via radiolytic reduction

Graphical abstract

Bimetallic Au-Pt nanoparticles synthesized by radiolysis: Application in electro-catalysis

Abstract2 nm bimetallic alloyed Au-Pt nanoparticles were synthesized via electron beam irradiation. The nanoparticles were characterized using TEM and EDAX analysis, and tested as electrocatalysts for different fuel-cell related reactions. Our results show that these Au-Pt nanoparticles are promising for application in fuel cells.

Radiolytic synthesis of Au–Cu bimetallic nanoparticles supported on TiO2: application in photocatalysis

Modification of TiO2 (P25) with Au–Cu bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) was successfully achieved via a deposition–precipitation method with urea (DPU) followed by radiolytic reduction. This deposition procedure ensures the complete adsorption of Au and Cu ions onto TiO2. Small Au–Cu NPs homogeneous in size were obtained. The alloyed structure of Au–Cu NPs was confirmed by HAADF-STEM, EDS, HRTEM and XPS techniques. The photocatalytic properties of the modified TiO2 have been studied for photodegradation of methyl orange. The modification with Au–Cu bimetallic nanoparticles induces an enhancement in the photocatalytic activity under UV irradiation. The highest photocatalytic activity was obtained with Au–Cu/TiO2 (Au/Cu = 1 : 3). Bimetallic Au–Cu NPs act as efficient electron scavengers increasing the photocatalytic activity under UV light.