Qiuhong Hu

Magnetic Nanocomposites with Mesoporous Structures: Synthesis and Applications

Magnetic nanocomposites with well-defined mesoporous structures, shapes, and tailored properties are of immense scientific and technological interest. This review article is devoted to the progress in the synthesis and applications of magnetic mesoporous materials. The first part briefly reviews various general methods developed for producing magnetic nanoparticles (NPs). The second presents and categorizes the synthesis of magnetic nanocomposites with mesoporous structures. These nanocomposites are broadly categorized into four types: monodisperse magnetic nanocrystals embedded in mesoporous nanospheres, microspheres encapsulating magnetic cores into perpendicularly aligned mesoporous shells, ordered mesoporous materials loaded with magnetic NPs inside the porous channels or cages, and rattle-type magnetic nanocomposites. The third section reviews the potential applications of the magnetic nanocomposites with mesoporous structures in the areas of heath care, catalysis, and environmental separation. The final section offers a summary and future perspectives on the state-of-the art in this area.

Shape-Controlled Synthesis of Cobalt-based Nanocubes, Nanodiscs, and Nanoflowers and Their Comparative Lithium-Storage Properties

Facile hydrothermal methods have been developed to synthesize large Co3O4 nanocubes, β-Co(OH)2 hexagonal nanodiscs and nanoflowers. Samples are thoroughly characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method, and thermogravimetric analysis. The Co3O4 nanocubes have an average size of about 350 nm with a perfect cubic shape, and the β-Co(OH)2 nanodiscs are uniform hexagonal platelets, whereas the β-Co(OH)2 nanoflowers are assembled from large sheetlike subunits. After thermal annealing in air at a moderate temperature, the as-prepared β-Co(OH)2 samples can be converted into spinel Co3O4 without significant alterations in morphology. We have also investigated the comparative lithium storage properties of these three Co3O4 samples with distinct morphologies. The nanoflower sample shows highly reversible lithium storage capability after 100 charge-discharge cycles.

From titanium oxydifluoride (TiOF2) to titania (TiO2): phase transition and non-metal doping with enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen (H2) evolution properties

Single-crystalline TiOF(2) crystals with cubical morphology were prepared via a facile solvothermal method and their transformation to anatase TiO(2) under different calcination conditions such as pure argon, moist argon and pure hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) was explored by using XRD/Raman/UV-Vis/SEM/TEM/SAED. The non-metal sulfur doping was successfully fulfilled and the doped TiO(2) microcubes showed the best photocatalytic H(2) evolution property.

Porous Graphitized Carbon for Adsorptive Removal of Benzene and the Electrothermal Regeneration

Graphitized carbons with mesoporous and macroporous structures were synthesized by a facile template-catalysis procedure using resorcinol and formaldehyde as carbon precursors and particulate hydrated metal oxides as both template and catalyst precursors. The materials were used as novel adsorbents for low-concentration benzene vapor. Furthermore, on the basis of the good electrical conductivities associated with the graphitized structures, an electrothermal desorption technique, which involved passing electric currents through the adsorbents to generate Joule heat, was employed to regenerate the saturated adsorbents and produce enriched benzene vapors. In comparison to microporous activated carbon, the porous graphitized carbons could afford a much quicker and more efficient regeneration by electrothermal desorption technique due to their enhanced conductivity and larger pore sizes. In addition, the concentration of the desorbed organics could be controlled by adjusting the applied voltages, which might be interesting for practical secondary treatment. It is promising that the joint utilization of porous graphitized carbon adsorbents and electrothermal desorption technique might develop effective and energy-saving processes for VOCs removal.

Synthesis of highly ordered large-pore periodic mesoporous organosilica rods

Highly ordered rods of large-pore periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) were successfully synthesized at low acid concentrations and in the presence of inorganic salt using triblock copolymer P123 as template. The roles of inorganic salt, acidity and temperature in the production of highly ordered mesostructure and the morphology control of PMOs were examined and elucidated. It was found that the addition of inorganic salt can dramatically widen the range of the synthesis parameters to produce highly ordered 2D hexagonal pore structure of p6mm symmetry. However, the uniform rods of PMOs can only be synthesized in a narrow range of acid and salt concentrations, which was sensitive to induction time. The results also showed that the optimized salt concentration (1 M) and low acidity (0.167 M) at 40 oC were beneficial to not only the production of highly ordered mesostucture but also the control of rod-like morphology. Highly ordered rods can also be produced at low temperature (35 oC) with high salt amount (1.5 M) or high temperature (45 oC) with low salt concentration (0.5 M).