Showing papers by "Xiaobo Chen published in 2005"

Chemistry and properties of nanocrystals of different shapes.

Abstract: The interest in nanoscale materials stems from the fact that new properties are acquired at this length scale and, equally important, that these properties * To whom correspondence should be addressed. Phone, 404-8940292; fax, 404-894-0294; e-mail, mostafa.el-sayed@ chemistry.gatech.edu. † Case Western Reserve UniversitysMillis 2258. ‡ Phone, 216-368-5918; fax, 216-368-3006; e-mail, burda@case.edu. § Georgia Institute of Technology. 1025 Chem. Rev. 2005, 105, 1025−1102

Formation of Oxynitride as the Photocatalytic Enhancing Site in Nitrogen‐Doped Titania Nanocatalysts: Comparison to a Commercial Nanopowder

Abstract: A nitrogen-doped TiO2 nanocolloid has been successfully prepared and its properties compared with the commercially available TiO2 nanomaterial, Degussa P25. Several characterization techniques, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron spectroscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Raman scattering, and UV-visible reflectance spectra, are combined in order to determine the crystal phase and grain size, shape, degree of nitrogen incorporation, and nature of the resultant oxynitride chemical bonding on the surface and in the bulk. The high relative photocatalytic activity of the nitrogen doped-TiO2 nanocolloid is evaluated through a study of the decomposition of methylene blue under visible light excitation. The ease and degree of substitutional-insertional nitrogen doping is held accountable for the significant increase in photocatalytic activity in the porous nanocolloid versus the nitrided commercial nanopowder. It is suggested that the nitrogen incorporation produces an NO bonding region as evidenced by the resulting XPS spectrum.

Defect-related optical behavior in surface-modified TiO2 nanostructures

Abstract: The surface modification of TiO2 nanostructures to incorporate nitrogen and form visible light absorbing titanium oxynitride centers is studied. Anatase TiO2 structures in the 5–20 nm range, formed by a wet chemical technique, were surface modified and the nitridation of the highly reactive TiO2 nanocolloid surface, as determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies, is achieved by a quick and simple treatment in alkyl ammonium compounds. The nitriding process was also simultaneously accompanied by metal seeding resulting in a metal coating layer on the TiO2 structures. The structure of the resultant titanium oxynitride nanostructures remains anatase. These freshly prepared samples exhibited a strong emission near 560 nm (2.21 eV), which red-shifted to 660 nm (1.88 eV) and dropped in intensity with aging in the atmosphere. This behavior was also evident in some of the combined nitrogen doped and metal seeded TiO2 nanocolloids. Electron spin resonance (ESR) performed on these samples identified a resonance at g = 2.0035, which increased significantly with nitridation. The resonance is attributed to an oxygen hole center created near the surface of the nanocolloid, which correlates well with the observed optical activity.

Investigation of the crystallization process in 2 nm CdSe quantum dots

Abstract: Investigation of the growth of CdSe nanocrystals ( approximately 160 atoms) to the uniquely stable size of 2 nm allows the monitoring of the crystallization process in semiconductor quantum dots. By using a combination of optical techniques, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and powder X-ray diffractometry (XRD), new phenomena were explored during the CdSe nanocrystal growth process, which involved significant morphological reconstruction and crystallization of the initially formed amorphous nanoparticles. During the crystallization, the absorption onset of the CdSe quantum dots blue shifted toward higher energies at 3 eV (414 nm), while the photoluminescence red shifted to lower energies. Furthermore, an apparent increasing Stokes shift was observed during the formation of small CdSe nanoparticles. On the other hand, the photoluminescence excitation spectra showed constant features over the reaction time. Additionally, results from HRTEM and XRD studies show that the CdSe nanoparticles were amorphous at early reaction stages and became better crystallized after longer reaction times, while the particle size remained the same during the crystallization process. These observations demonstrate the important role of the surface on the optical properties of small CdSe quantum dots and facilitated the spectroscopic monitoring of the crystallization process in quantum dots.

Doped semiconductor nanomaterials.

Abstract: The development and properties of doped nanomaterials including doped titanium dioxide, doped silicon, and doped cadmium telluride are reviewed, as well as their ultrafast dynamics. Doping nanomaterials provides a flexible way to tune to the properties of the materials while maintaining their high surface areas. The electronic, optical, photochemical, photoelectrochemical, photocatalytic and photoexcited relaxation properties can be tuned towards the desired direction by doping different elements. The materials can be engineered towards specific applications through careful selection of the dopants.