Yong Cai Zhang

Solvothermal Synthesis of Cd1-xZnxS (x = 0-1) Nanorods Using Single-Source Molecular Precursors

A solvothermal method has been developed for the synthesis of Cd1-xZnxS (x = 0–1) nanorods from a class of easily obtained, air-stable single-source molecular precursors, cadmium zinc bis(N,N-diethyldithiocarbamates). The phase, morphology, size and optical property of the resultant products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and UV-vis absorption spectra.

Solvothermal Synthesis of Mn-Doped CdS Nanorods Using Single-Source Molecular Precursors

The synthesis of hexagonal phase Mn-doped CdS (Cd1-xMnxS) nanorods was achieved by solvothermal treatment of a class of easily obtained, air-stable single-source molecular precursors (cadmium manganese diethyldithiocarbamates, Cd1-xMnx-(DDTC)2) in ethylenediamine at 180 °C for 12 h. The structures and compositions of the as-synthesized products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy.

Enhancing Current of Microbial Fuel Cell by Modifying Ionic Liquid-Doped Polyaniline Film onto Graphite Anode

The electrochemical interaction between bacteria and electrode should be further strengthened at the present stage in order to develop microbial fuel cells (MFCs) to practical power sources. Developing effective anode materials is an alternative to achieving this goal. In this study, the redox activity of polyaniline (PAn) in neutral pH solution was improved by doping ionic liquid (IL) into the synthesized PAn; and the current output of MFC could be enhanced by using IL doped polyaniline (PAnIL) film as anode material. Both cyclic voltermmeter (CV) measurement and MFC operation showed that PAnIL electrochemically synthesized in solution with 30%(v/v) IL addition exhibited the best performance.

Research on Neural Network Theory of the Toxicity of Aromatic Hydrocarbons on Chlorella vulgaris

Using BP neural network method, we calculate and analyze the molecular structure of aromatic hydrocarbons. Then, we get the electrotopological state indices and the molecular electronegativity distance vectors of 25 aromatic hydrocarbons based on the calculation of molecular structure characteristics and adjacency matrix. By regression, we get and optimize the structural parameters E9, E13, E17 and M15. The four structural parameters are used as the input variables and a 4-2-1 network structure is employed to construct a BP artificial neural network model for predicting acute toxicity pEC50. The total correlation coefficient R is 0.994 and the average error between the predicted value and experimental value of pEC50 is 0.079, which indicate that the ANN model has good stability and superior predictive ability. The results show that there is a good nonlinear correlation between acute toxicity pEC50 and the four structural parameters. The results of our research reveal that the toxicity of aromatic hydrocarbons is closely affected by electrotopological state indices and the molecular electronegativity distance vectors. Therefore, it will be helpful in assessing the hazard of aromatic hydrocarbons to environment.

Hydrothermal Synthesis and Photocatalytic Properties of TiO2/SnS2 Nanocomposite

TiO2/SnS2 nanocomposite was synthesized via hydrothermal treatment of tin (IV) chloride pentahydrate, thioacetamide and TiO2 nanotubes in deionized water at 150 °C for 3 h. The structure, composition and optical property of the as-synthesized nanocomposite were characterized by X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra, and its photocatalytic property was tested in the reduction of aqueous Cr6+ under visible-light (λ > 420 nm) irradiation. It was observed that TiO2 nanotubes exhibited no photocatalytic activity, whereas TiO2/SnS2 nanocomposite exhibited photocatalytic activity in the reduction of aqueous Cr6+ under visible-light (λ > 420 nm) irradiation.

Hydrothermal Synthesis of Visible Light Active SnO2-SnS2 Nanocomposite Photocatalyst for the Reduction of Cr(VI) in Water

A low temperature (130 °C) hydrothermal method was proposed for the synthesis of SnO2-SnS2 nanocomposite. The composition, structure and optical property of the as-synthesized SnO2-SnS2 nanocomposite were characterized by X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra, and its photocatalytic activity was tested by the reduction of Cr(VI) in water under visible light (λ > 420 nm) irradiation. It was found that the as-synthesized SnO2-SnS2 nanocomposite exhibited high photocatalytic activity in the reduction of Cr(VI) in water under visible light (λ > 420 nm) irradiation, whereas SnO2 nanoparticles displayed no photocatalytic activity in the reduction of Cr(VI) in water under visible light (λ > 420 nm) irradiation.

Hydrothermal Synthesis and Photocatalytic Properties of ZnO Nanorods

ZnO2 nanorods were synthesized via hydrothermal treatment of 2ZnCO3•3Zn(OH)2 powder in 30 mass% H2O2 aqueous solution at 170 °C for 12 h, and characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra. Besides, the photocatalytic activity of the as-synthesized ZnO2 nanorods was tested for the degradation of methyl orange in distilled water under UV light irradiation.

Two-Step Green Hydrothermal Synthesis of ZnO Powders

ZnO2 nanoparticles were synthesized via hydrothermal reaction between Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6 powder and 30 mass% H2O2 aqueous solution at 80 °C for 24 h, and ZnO powders with granular and rodlike morphologies were synthesized via hydrothermal decomposition of the as-synthesized ZnO2 nanoparticles in water at 150-170 °C for 24 h. The obtained products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman and Field emission scanning electron microscopy.

Solvothermal Synthesis of Phase-Pure CuInS2 Hierachical Nanostructure Using Single-Source Molecular Precursor

The synthesis of phase-pure CuInS2 microclusters comprising nanoflakes was achieved by solvothermal treatment of copper indium diethyldithiocarbamates (compositionally CuIn-(DDTC)5) in ethanol at 190 °C for 36 h. The obtained product was characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy. Besides, contrast synthesis tests using multi-source precursors were also conducted.

Ambient Condition Synthesis of Ag Submicron Crystallites from AgNO3, H2O2 and NH3•H2O

A simple and cost-effective method based on the reduction of AgNO3 by H2O2 (5 vol.%) in 2.5–5 vol.% NH3•H2O aqueous solutions at room temperature and under atmospheric pressure was developed for the synthesis of Ag submicron crystallites. X-ray diffraction patterns demonstrated that the resultant products were pure cubic phase Ag powders. Field emission scanning electronic microscopy images showed that the Ag powders synthesized in 2.5 and 5 vol.% NH3•H2O aqueous solutions comprised submicron crystallites with the sizes of about 355–580 and 200–650 nm, respectively. Besides, the possible formation mechanism of Ag powders in the present system was also proposed.