N. Ravishankar

Controlled synthesis of plate-shaped hydroxyapatite and implications for the morphology of the apatite phase in bone

A general methodology for predicting the conditions for the formation of plate-shaped structures by precipitation has been developed. The method has been applied for understanding the morphology of hydroxyapatite formed under different synthetic conditions. Morphology diagram has been developed in the form of pH-T diagrams to predict regions where plate-shaped hydroxyapatite is expected to form. The validity of the morphology diagram has been tested by critical experiments carried out at different conditions coupled with detailed microstructural analysis. Different morphologies ranging from single crystalline sheets, rods to equiaxed particles of hydroxyapatite are achieved by tuning the driving force of the precipitation reactions by varying the parameters such as pH and temperature in the absence of capping/surfactant agents. The synthesis and analysis presented here have important implications for understanding the plate-shaped morphology of apatite crystals that exist in the bone.

Nanoscale ZnO/CdS heterostructures with engineered interfaces for high photocatalytic activity under solar radiation

Semiconductor based nanoscale heterostructures are promising candidates for photocatalytic and photovoltaic applications with the sensitization of a wide bandgap semiconductor with a narrow bandgap material being the most viable strategy to maximize the utilization of the solar spectrum. Here, we present a simple wet chemical route to obtain nanoscale heterostructures of ZnO/CdS without using any molecular linker. Our method involves the nucleation of a Cd-precursor on ZnO nanorods with a subsequent sulfidation step leading to the formation of the ZnO/CdS nanoscale heterostructures. Excellent control over the loading of CdS and the microstructure is realized by merely changing the initial concentration of the sulfiding agent. We show that the heterostructures with the lowest CdS loading exhibit an exceptionally high activity for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under solar irradiation conditions; microstructural and surface analysis reveals that the higher activity in this case is related to the dispersion of the CdS nanoparticles on the ZnO nanorod surface and to the higher concentration of surface hydroxyl species. Detailed analysis of the mechanism of formation of the nanoscale heterostructures reveals that it is possible to obtain deterministic control over the nature of the interfaces. Our synthesis method is general and applicable for other heterostructures where the interfaces need to be engineered for optimal properties. In particular, the absence of any molecular linker at the interface makes our method appealing for photovoltaic applications where faster rates of electron transfer at the heterojunctions are highly desirable.

Graphite Oxide-Intercalated Anionic Clay and Its Decomposition to Graphene-Inorganic Material Nanocomposites

A graphite oxide-intercalated anionic clay (nickel zinc hydroxysalt) has been prepared using the aqueous colloidal dispersions of negatively charged graphite oxide sheets and aminobenzoate-intercalated anionic clay layers as precursors. When the two colloidal dispersions are reacted, the interlayer aminobenzoate ions are displaced from the anionic clay and the negatively charged graphite oxide sheets are intercalated between the positively charged layers of the anionic clay. The thermal decomposition of the intercalated solid at different temperatures yields graphene-metal oxide/metal nanocomposites. Electron microscopic analysis of the composites indicates that the nanoparticles are intercalated between the layers of graphite in many regions of these solids although the graphite layers are largely exfoliated and not stacked well together.

Nanoporous Pt with high surface area by reaction-limited aggregation of nanoparticles.

Nanoporous structures with high active surface areas are critical for a variety of applications. Here, we present a general templateless strategy to produce such porous structures by controlled aggregation of nanostructured subunits and apply the principles for synthesizing nanoporous Pt for electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol. The nature of the aggregate produced is controlled by tuning the electrostatic interaction between surfactant-free nanoparticles in the solution phase. When the repulsive force between the particles is very large, the particles are stabilized in the solution while instantaneous aggregation leading to fractal-like structures results when the repulsive force is very low. Controlling the repulsive interaction to an optimum, intermediate value results in the formation of compact structures with very large surface areas. In the case of Pt, nanoporous clusters with an extremely high specific surface area (39 m2/g) and high activity for methanol oxidation have been produced. Preliminary investigations indicate that the method is general and can be easily extended to produce nanoporous structures of many inorganic materials.

New Insights into Selective Heterogeneous Nucleation of Metal Nanoparticles on Oxides by Microwave-Assisted Reduction: Rapid Synthesis of High-Activity Supported Catalysts

Microwave-based methods are widely employed to synthesize metal nanoparticles on various substrates. However, the detailed mechanism of formation of such hybrids has not been addressed. In this paper, we describe the thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of reduction of metal salts by ethylene glycol under microwave heating conditions. On the basis of this analysis, we identify the temperatures above which the reduction of the metal salt is thermodynamically favorable and temperatures above which the rates of homogeneous nucleation of the metal and the heterogeneous nucleation of the metal on supports are favored. We delineate different conditions which favor the heterogeneous nucleation of the metal on the supports over homogeneous nucleation in the solvent medium based on the dielectric loss parameters of the solvent and the support and the metal/solvent and metal/support interfacial energies. Contrary to current understanding, we show that metal particles can be selectively formed on the substrate even under situations where the temperature of the substrate is lower than that of the surrounding medium. The catalytic activity of the Pt/CeO(2) and Pt/TiO(2) hybrids synthesized by this method for H(2) combustion reaction shows that complete conversion is achieved at temperatures as low as 100 °C with Pt-CeO(2) catalyst and at 50 °C with Pt-TiO(2) catalyst. Our method thus opens up possibilities for rational synthesis of high-activity supported catalysts using a fast microwave-based reduction method.

High-surface step density on dendritic pd leads to exceptional catalytic activity for formic acid oxidation.

Dendritic Pd with corrugated surfaces, obtained by a novel AC technique, exhibits an exceptionally high catalytic activity for the oxidation of formic acid because of the presence of a high density of surface steps. The formation of twinned dendrites leads to a predominance of exposed 111 facets with a high density of surface steps as evident from high resolution electron microscopy investigations. These surface sites provide active sites for the adsorption of the formic acid molecules, thereby enhancing the reaction rate. Control experiments by varying the time of deposition reveal the formation of partially grown dendrites at shorter times indicating that the dendrites were formed by growth rather than particle attachment. Our deposition method opens up interesting possibilities to produce anisotropic nanostructures with corrugated surfaces by exploiting the perturbations involved in the growth process.

Mechanical properties of tricalcium phosphate single crystals grown by molten salt synthesis

Mechanical properties of flux-grown tricalcium phosphate (TCP) single crystals ranging in size from 50 to 75microm have been characterized by performing micro- and nanoindentation on their facets. Notwithstanding the inherent brittleness and anisotropy, these single crystals exhibit nanoscale plasticity in the form of pile-up around the edges of indents. A similar plastic response was observed in hydroxyapatite (HA) single crystals during nanoindentation in an earlier study. The hardness and elastic modulus obtained during nanoindentation are discussed in comparison with the polycrystalline forms of both TCP and HA found in the literature. The indentation fracture toughness values of TCP single crystals were found to be higher than those of HA single crystals. The higher values are attributed not only to the difference in crystal structure and corresponding differences in surface energy, but also to extensive crack bridging by ligament formation across crack faces during crack propagation.

Influence of CeO2 morphology on the catalytic activity of CeO2–Pt hybrids for CO oxidation

Ceria, because of its excellent redox behavior and oxygen storage capacity, is used as a catalyst for several technologically important reactions. In the present study, different morphologies of nano-CeO2 (rods, cubes, octahedra) were synthesized using the hydrothermal route. An ultrafast microwave-assisted method was used to efficiently attach Pt particles to the CeO2 polyhedra. These nanohybrids were tested as catalysts for the CO oxidation reaction. The CeO2/Pt catalyst with nanorods as the support was found to be the most active catalyst. XPS and IR spectroscopy measurements were carried out in order to obtain a mechanistic understanding and it was observed that the adsorbed carbonates with lower stability on the reactive planes of nanorods and cubes are the major contributor to this enhanced catalytic activity.

Relaxor behavior of K0.5La0.5Bi2Nb2O9 ceramics

K0.5La0.5Bi2Nb2O9, a relaxor, was synthesized and the structural studies confirmed it to be an n=2 member of the Aurivillius oxides. The 12{h00} and 12{hk0} types of superlattice reflections in the electron diffraction patterns reflected the presence of ordered polar regions. A broad dielectric peak with frequency dependent dielectric maximum temperature was observed. The dielectric relaxation obeyed the Vogel-Fulcher relation wherein Ea=0.04eV, Tf=428K,and ωo=1010Hz. The diffuseness parameter γ=2.003 established the relaxor nature and it was attributed to the A-site cationic disorder. The piezoelectric d31 coefficient was 0.5pC∕N at 300K and 2pC∕N at 480K.

New insights into electronic and geometric effects in the enhanced photoelectrooxidation of ethanol Using ZnO nanorod/ultrathin Au nanowire hybrids.

Oxidation of small organic molecules in a fuel cell is a viable method for energy production. However, the key issue is the development of suitable catalysts that exhibit high efficiencies and remain stable during operation. Here, we demonstrate that amine-modified ZnO nanorods on which ultrathin Au nanowires are grown act as an excellent catalyst for the oxidation of ethanol. We show that the modification of the ZnO nanorods with oleylamine not only modifies the electronic structure favorably but also serves to anchor the Au nanowires on the nanorods. The adsorption of OH(-) species on the Au nanowires that is essential for ethanol oxidation is facilitated at much lower potentials as compared to bare Au nanowires leading to high activity. While ZnO shows negligible electrocatalytic activity under normal conditions, there is significant enhancement in the activity under light irradiation. We demonstrate a synergistic enhancement in the photoelectrocatalytic activity of the ZnO/Au nanowire hybrid and provide mechanistic explanation for this enhancement based on both electronic as well as geometric effects. The principles developed are applicable for tuning the properties of other metal/semiconductor hybrids with potentially interesting applications beyond the fuel cell application demonstrated here.