Yunqian Dai

Bio: Yunqian Dai is an academic researcher from Southeast University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Nanofiber & Materials science. The author has an hindex of 20, co-authored 58 publications receiving 2854 citations. Previous affiliations of Yunqian Dai include Zhejiang University & Washington University in St. Louis.

Electrospinning and Electrospun Nanofibers: Methods, Materials, and Applications

Abstract: Electrospinning is a versatile and viable technique for generating ultrathin fibers. Remarkable progress has been made with regard to the development of electrospinning methods and engineering of electrospun nanofibers to suit or enable various applications. We aim to provide a comprehensive overview of electrospinning, including the principle, methods, materials, and applications. We begin with a brief introduction to the early history of electrospinning, followed by discussion of its principle and typical apparatus. We then discuss its renaissance over the past two decades as a powerful technology for the production of nanofibers with diversified compositions, structures, and properties. Afterward, we discuss the applications of electrospun nanofibers, including their use as "smart" mats, filtration membranes, catalytic supports, energy harvesting/conversion/storage components, and photonic and electronic devices, as well as biomedical scaffolds. We highlight the most relevant and recent advances related to the applications of electrospun nanofibers by focusing on the most representative examples. We also offer perspectives on the challenges, opportunities, and new directions for future development. At the end, we discuss approaches to the scale-up production of electrospun nanofibers and briefly discuss various types of commercial products based on electrospun nanofibers that have found widespread use in our everyday life.

Synthesis of anatase TiO2 nanocrystals with exposed {001} facets.

Abstract: This paper reports a facile synthesis of anatase TiO2 nanocrystals with exposed, chemically active {001} facets. The nanocrystals were prepared by digesting electrospun nanofibers consisting of amorphous TiO2 and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) with an aqueous acetic acid solution (pH = 1.6), followed by hydrothermal treatment at 150 °C for 20 h. The as-obtained nanocrystals exhibited a truncated tetragonal bipyramidal shape with 9.6% of the surface being enclosed by {001} facets. The use of electrospinning is critical to the success of this synthesis as it allows for the generation of very small particles of amorphous TiO2 to facilitate hydrothermal crystallization, an Ostwald ripening process. The morphology of the nanocrystals had a strong dependence on the pH value of the solution used for hydrothermal treatment. Low pH values tended to eliminate the {001} facets by forming sharp corners while high pH values favored the formation of a rodlike morphology through an oriented attachment mechanism. When acetic ac...

Ceramic nanofibers fabricated by electrospinning and their applications in catalysis, environmental science, and energy technology

Abstract: This paper provides a brief review of current research activities that focus on the fabrication of ceramic nanofibers by electrospinning, as well as their applications in various areas. We begin with a brief introduction to electrospinning in the context of ceramic nanofibers, and the methods for preparing aligned and/or hollow nanofibers. We then discuss approaches to the fabrication of nanofibers with a hierarchical structure. We continue with a highlight of some recent applications enabled by electrospun ceramic nanofibers, with a focus on three areas: catalysis, environmental science, and energy technology, which are expected to become the most important and exciting subjects of research in this century. In the end, we conclude this review with some perspectives on the future directions and implications for this new class of functional nanomaterials. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The physical chemistry and materials science behind sinter-resistant catalysts

Abstract: Catalyst sintering, a main cause of the loss of catalytic activity and/or selectivity at high reaction temperatures, is a major concern and grand challenge in the general area of heterogeneous catalysis. Although all heterogeneous catalysts are inevitably subjected to sintering during their operation, the immediate and drastic consequences can be mitigated by carefully engineering the catalytic particles and their interactions with the supports. In this tutorial review, we highlight recent progress in understanding the physical chemistry and materials science involved in sintering, including the discussion of advanced techniques, such as in situ microscopy and spectroscopy, for investigating the sintering process and its rate. We also discuss strategies for the design and rational fabrication of sinter-resistant catalysts. Finally, we showcase recent success in improving the thermal stability and thus sinter resistance of supported catalytic systems.

A Sinter-Resistant Catalytic System Based on Platinum Nanoparticles Supported on TiO2 Nanofibers and Covered by Porous Silica

Abstract: Platinum is a key catalyst that is invaluable in many important industrial processes such as CO oxidation in catalytic converters, oxidation and reduction reactions in fuel cells, nitric acid production, and petroleum cracking. Many of these applications utilize Pt nanoparticles supported on oxides or porous carbon. However, in practical applications that involve high temperatures (typically higher than 300 8C), the Pt nanoparticles tend to lose their specific surface area and thus catalytic activity during operation because of sintering. Recent studies have shown that a porous oxide shell can act as a physical barrier to prevent sintering of unsupported metal nanoparticles and, at the same time, provide channels for chemical species to reach the surface of the nanoparticles, thus allowing the catalytic reaction to occur. This concept has been demonstrated in several systems, including Pt@SiO2, [3] Pt@CoO, Pt/CeO2@SiO2, [5] Pd@SiO2, [6] Au@SiO2, [7] Au@SnO2 [8] and Au@ZrO2 [9] core– shell nanostructures. Despite these results, a sinter-resistant system has not been realized in supported Pt nanoparticle catalysts. Improved catalytic or photocatalytic properties are often achieved when metal nanoparticles are supported on oxides such as TiO2 and CeO2 that interact strongly with late transition metals. Herein, we demonstrate a thermally stable catalytic system consisting of Pt nanoparticles that are supported on a TiO2 nanofiber and coated with a porous SiO2 sheath. In this system, the porous SiO2 coating offers an energy barrier to prevent the migration of individual Pt atoms or nanoparticles because of its weak interaction with late transition metals, including Pt. The porous-SiO2/Pt/TiO2 catalytic system was prepared in three steps (Figure 1):

TiO2 photocatalysis: Design and applications

Abstract: TiO 2 photocatalysis is widely used in a variety of applications and products in the environmental and energy fields, including self-cleaning surfaces, air and water purification systems, sterilization, hydrogen evolution, and photoelectrochemical conversion. The development of new materials, however, is strongly required to provide enhanced performances with respect to the photocatalytic properties and to find new uses for TiO 2 photocatalysis. In this review, recent developments in the area of TiO 2 photocatalysis research, in terms of new materials from a structural design perspective, have been summarized. The dimensionality associated with the structure of a TiO 2 material can affect its properties and functions, including its photocatalytic performance, and also more specifically its surface area, adsorption, reflectance, adhesion, and carrier transportation properties. We provide a brief introduction to the current situation in TiO 2 photocatalysis, and describe structurally controlled TiO 2 photocatalysts which can be classified into zero-, one-, two-, and three-dimensional structures. Furthermore, novel applications of TiO 2 surfaces for the fabrication of wettability patterns and for printing are discussed.

Electrospinning and Electrospun Nanofibers: Methods, Materials, and Applications

Abstract: Electrospinning is a versatile and viable technique for generating ultrathin fibers. Remarkable progress has been made with regard to the development of electrospinning methods and engineering of electrospun nanofibers to suit or enable various applications. We aim to provide a comprehensive overview of electrospinning, including the principle, methods, materials, and applications. We begin with a brief introduction to the early history of electrospinning, followed by discussion of its principle and typical apparatus. We then discuss its renaissance over the past two decades as a powerful technology for the production of nanofibers with diversified compositions, structures, and properties. Afterward, we discuss the applications of electrospun nanofibers, including their use as "smart" mats, filtration membranes, catalytic supports, energy harvesting/conversion/storage components, and photonic and electronic devices, as well as biomedical scaffolds. We highlight the most relevant and recent advances related to the applications of electrospun nanofibers by focusing on the most representative examples. We also offer perspectives on the challenges, opportunities, and new directions for future development. At the end, we discuss approaches to the scale-up production of electrospun nanofibers and briefly discuss various types of commercial products based on electrospun nanofibers that have found widespread use in our everyday life.

Advanced Nanoarchitectures for Solar Photocatalytic Applications

Abstract: UV-Visible ار راد ن .د TiO2 ( تیفرظ راون مان هب نورتکلا یاراد یژرنا زارت لماش VB و ) رگید زارت ی یژرنا اب ( ییاناسر راون مان هب نورتکلا زا یلاخ و رتلااب VB یم ) .دشاب ت ود نیا نیب یژرنا توافت یژرنا فاکش زار ، پگ دناب هدیمان یم .دوش هک ینامز زا نورتکلا لاقتنا VB هب VB یم ماجنا دریگ ، TiO2 اب ودح یژرنا بذج د ev 2 / 3 ، نورتکلا تفج کی دیلوت یم هرفح .دیامن و نورتکلا هرفح ی نا اب هدش دیلوت یم کرتشم حطس هب لاقت ثعاب دناوت شنکاو ماجنا اه یی ددرگ . TiO2 دربراک ،دراد یدایز یاه هلمج زا یم ناوت اوه یگدولآ هیفصت یارب (CO2) و بآ و ... نآ زا هدافتسا درک .

Glowing Graphene Quantum Dots and Carbon Dots: Properties, Syntheses, and Biological Applications

Abstract: The emerging graphene quantum dots (GQDs) and carbon dots (C-dots) have gained tremendous attention for their enormous potentials for biomedical applications, owing to their unique and tunable photoluminescence properties, exceptional physicochemical properties, high photostability, biocompatibility, and small size. This article aims to update the latest results in this rapidly evolving field and to provide critical insights to inspire more exciting developments. We comparatively review the properties and synthesis methods of these carbon nanodots and place emphasis on their biological (both fundamental and theranostic) applications.

Enhanced Photocatalytic CO2-Reduction Activity of Anatase TiO2 by Coexposed {001} and {101} Facets

Abstract: Control of TiO2 crystal facets has attracted enormous interest due to the fascinating shape-dependent photocatalytic activity of this material. In this work, the effect of the ratio of {001} and {101} facets on the photocatalytic CO2-reduction performance of anatase TiO2 is reported. A new “surface heterojunction” concept is proposed on the basis of the density functional theory (DFT) calculations to explain the difference in the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 with coexposed {001} and {101} facets.