Tunable Size (tunable + size)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Distribution within Polymers and Materials Science


Selected Abstracts


Synthesis and Assembly of Monodisperse High-Coercivity Silica-Capped FePt Nanomagnets of Tunable Size, Composition, and Thermal Stability from Microemulsions,

ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 19 2006
Q. Yan
A microemulsion approach to obtain high - coercivity (850 mT) FePt nanomagnets capped with a nanoscopic silica shell is reported (see figure). This versatile method allows the easy tuning of particle size and composition. The silica shell inhibits agglomeration and preserves the chemical stability of the particles up to 650,°C, and facilitates surface functionalization and particle assembly. These attributes are attractive for harnessing the nanomagnets for realizing novel devices and composites. [source]


Encapsulation of a Single Metal Nanoparticle with Tunable Size in a Monodisperse Polymer Microcapsule

MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS, Issue 3 2009
Haiqing Li
Abstract A versatile approach to fabricate monodisperse poly[styrene- co -(divinyl benzene)] (PS- co -DVB) microcapsules that contain a single gold nanoparticle (AuNP) has been demonstrated. Using the PS- co -DVB microcapsule as a microreactor, aqueous HAuCl4 and NaBH4 solutions are subsequently infiltrated. The size of the resulting AuNP inside of the PS- co -DVB microcapsules is easily tunable by controlling the repeated infiltration cycles of aqueous HAuCl4 and NaBH4. PS- co -DVB microcapsules that contain a single silver and palladium nanoparticle are also obtained by following a similar protocol. [source]


Multifunctional Magnetic Optical Sensor Particles with Tunable Sizes for Monitoring Metabolic Parameters and as a Basis for Nanotherapeutics

ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 11 2010
Günter Mistlberger
Abstract Magnetic optical sensor particles with multifunctional cores and shells are synthesized via a facile nanoprecipitation method and the subsequent modification of the particle shell. The hydrophobic particle core includes optical oxygen indicators, a light harvesting system, photosensitizers, and magnetic nanoparticles. Further functionalities are introduced by modifying the shell with enzymes, antibodies, multiple layers of polyelectrolytes, stimuli-responsive polymers, and luminescent indicator dyes. The hydrodynamic diameter is tunable by varying different precipitation parameters. [source]


Preparation of Uniform, Water-Soluble, and Multifunctional Nanocomposites with Tunable Sizes

ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 5 2010
Dechao Niu
Abstract Novel, thiol-functionalized, and superparamagnetic, silica composite nanospheres (SH-SSCNs) with diameters smaller than 100,nm are successfully fabricated through the self-assembly of Fe3O4 nanoparticles and polystyrene100 - block -poly(acrylic acid)16 and a subsequent sol-gel process. The size and magnetic properties of the SH-SSCNs can be easily tuned by simply varying the initial concentrations of the magnetite nanoparticles in the oil phase. By incorporating fluorescent dye molecules into the silica network, the composite nanospheres can be further fluorescent-functionalized. The toxicity of the SH-SSCNs is evaluated by choosing three typical cell lines (HUVEC, RAW264.7, and A549) as model cells, and no toxic effects are observed. It is also demonstrated that SH-SSCNs can be used as a new class of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) probes, having a remarkably high spin,spin (T2) relaxivity (r2*,=,176.1,mM,1 S,1). The combination of the sub-100-nm particle size, monodispersity in aqueous solution, superparamagnetism, and fluorescent properties of the SH-SSCNs, as well as the non-cytotoxicity in vitro, provides a novel and potential candidate for an earlier MRI diagnostic method of cancer. [source]


Supramolecular Architectures: Selective Formation of Bi-Component Arrays Through H-Bonding of Multivalent Molecular Modules (Adv. Funct.

ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 8 2009
Mater.
Molecular recognition occurs at dynamic interfaces too! The cover shows a donor,acceptor,donor hydrogen-bond moiety, incorporated in a tailor-made monovalent molecular module (in blue), that is able to recognize both complementary monovalent (in red) and tetravalent (in green) molecular modules at interfaces. This finding, described by P. Samori and co-workers on page 1207, paves the way towards the formation of robust multicomponent 2D functional nanostructures with tunable size and geometries. [source]


Reactive Template Method to Synthesize Gold Nanoparticles with Controllable Size and Morphology Supported on Shells of Polymer Hollow Microspheres and Their Application for Aerobic Alcohol Oxidation in Water

ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 7 2009
Jie Han
Abstract A novel method has been developed to synthesize gold nanoparticles with tunable size and morphology supported on both inner and outer surfaces of poly(o -phenylenediamine) (PoPD) hollow microspheres, which act as both reductant and template/stabilizer. The size of gold nanoparticles supported on shells of PoPD hollow microspheres can be tuned from 3 to 15,nm by changing the concentration of the gold source, HAuCl4. Gold nanorods supported on shells of PoPD hollow microspheres can also be fabricated by introducing a well-known seed-growth strategy. In addition, silver nanoparticles supported on shells of PoPD hollow microspheres can also be successfully fabricated using the same strategy, which indicates the diversity of this proposed method for polymer hollow microspheres supporting noble metal nanoparticles. The products are characterized by X-ray diffraction and contact angle analysis. Furthermore, the catalytic activity of the obtained PoPD-microsphere-supported gold nanoparticles for aerobic alcohol oxidation is investigated. The results demonstrate that such polymer-supported gold nanoparticles can be used as reusable catalysts with high catalytic activity for aerobic alcohol oxidation in water. [source]


N,N -Dimethylformamide as a Reaction Medium for Metal Nanoparticle Synthesis

ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 5 2009
Isabel Pastoriza-Santos
Abstract The versatility of wet chemical methods has rendered them extremely popular for the preparation of metal nanoparticles with tailored size and shape. This Feature Article reviews the use of N,N -dimethylformamide (DMF) for the reduction of metal salts, mainly Au and Ag, while also acting as a solvent. Apart from describing the ability of DMF to reduce metal salts, the effect of different parameters, such as the concentration of capping agent and metal precursors, the presence of preformed seeds acting as catalysts or their crystalline structure, on particle morphology are analyzed. Published reports on the use of different capping agents are summarized, with particular emphasis on the role of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) to determine the morphology of the particles. Finally, a brief overview is provided on the modulation of the optical response in DMF-based metal nanoparticle colloids with tunable size and shape. [source]


Spontaneous Organization of Uniform CeO2 Nanoflowers by 3D Oriented Attachment in Hot Surfactant Solutions Monitored with an In Situ Electrical Conductance Technique

CHEMISTRY - A EUROPEAN JOURNAL, Issue 11 2008
Huan-Ping Zhou
Abstract Uniform CeO2 nanoflowers were synthesized by rapid thermolysis of (NH4)2Ce(NO3)6 in oleic acid (OA)/oleylamine (OM), by a unique 3D oriented-attachment mechanism. CeO2 nanoflowers with controlled shape (cubic, four-petaled, and starlike) and tunable size (10,40,nm) were obtained by adjusting the reaction conditions including solvent composition, precursor concentration, reaction temperature, and reaction time. The nanoflower growth mechanism was investigated by in situ electrical conductance measurements, transmission electron microscopy, and UV/Vis spectroscopy. The CeO2 nanoflowers are likely formed in two major steps, that is, initial formation of ceria cluster particles capped with various ligands (e.g., OA, OM, and NO3,) via hydrolysis of (NH4)2Ce(NO3)6 at temperatures in the range 140,220,°C, and subsequent spontaneous organization of the primary particles into nanoflowers by 3D oriented attachment, due to a rapid decrease in surface ligand coverage caused by sudden decomposition of the precursor at temperatures above 220,°C in a strong redox reaction. After calcination at 400,°C for 4,h the 33.8,nm CeO2 nanoflowers have a specific surface area as large as 156,m2,g,1 with high porosity, and they are highly active for conversion of CO to CO2 in the low temperature range of 200,400,°C. The present approach has also been extended to the preparation of other transition metal oxide (CoO, NiO, and CuOx) nanoflowers. [source]


Controlled Synthesis, Growth Mechanism, and Properties of Monodisperse CdS Colloidal Spheres

CHEMISTRY - A EUROPEAN JOURNAL, Issue 31 2007
Xin-Hao Li
Abstract Highly monodisperse submicrometer CdS colloidal spheres (CSCS) with a controllable and tunable size (between 80 and 500,nm) have been synthesized through a facile solvothermal technique. Owing to the controllability of the reaction process, the growth mechanism of the colloidal spheres has been elucidated in detail. The whole growth process can be summarized as homogenous and slow nucleation of nanocrystals, formation of "cores" through 3D-oriented attachment of nanocrystals, and further surface-induced growth to monodisperse colloidal spheres through in situ formation and random attachment of additional nanocrystals. It has been demonstrated that the obtained CSCS colloidal particles are able to be assembled into films which show characteristic stop band gaps of photonic crystals. By using the CSCS as a template, Ag2S, Bi2S3, Cu2S, HgS, and Sb2S3 colloidal spheres, which are difficult to obtain directly, have also been prepared successfully through ion exchange. [source]


Recognition-Controlled Assembly of Nanoparticles Using Photochemically Crosslinked Recognition-Induced Polymersomes,

ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 16 2006
J. Thibault
Photocrosslinking of recognition-induced polymersomes provides robust hollow spheres with tunable sizes from 3 to 15,,m (see figure). These capsules selectively integrate complementary nanoparticles into their walls, providing direct access to assemblies. [source]


Low-Temperature Synthesis of Star-Shaped PbS Nanocrystals in Aqueous Solutions of Mixed Cationic/Anionic Surfactants,

ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 3 2006
N. Zhao
Uniform, well-defined star-shaped PbS nanocrystals with tunable sizes (40,100,nm, see Figure), as well as octahedral PbS nanocrystals, have been readily synthesized in aqueous solutions containing a mixture of the surfactants cetyltrimethylammonium bromide/ sodium dodecyl sulfate (CTAB/SDS) at low temperature (80,°C). The size of the PbS nanostars can be accurately controlled by adjusting the reaction time. This result may open new avenues for the green chemical synthesis of shape-controlled semiconductor nanocrystals. [source]


Stabilizer-free dispersion copolymerization of maleic anhydride and vinyl acetate.

JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 17 2005

Abstract A novel dispersion copolymerization of maleic anhydride (MAn) and vinyl acetate (VAc) without adding stabilizer is developed, which gives uniform copolymer microspheres with tunable sizes. Some principal factors affecting the microspheres, such as reaction time, monomer concentration and feed ratio, reaction media, and cosolvent, were investigated. It was found that the stabilizer-free dispersion copolymerization of MAn and VAc is a rapid process, and the particle size grows in accordance with the evolution of polymerization. The chemical composition of the copolymer microspheres was characterized by FT-IR and 13C NMR spectroscopies. Over a wide range of monomer concentrations, the microspheres can always be formed and stably dispersed, with uniform sizes ranging from 180 nm to 740 nm. The yield of copolymer microspheres reaches a maximum at 1:1 feed ratio of MAn to VAc, owing to the alternating copolymerization between the binary monomers by a known charge-transfer-complex mechanism. However, the diameter of microspheres drastically increases when MAn content is enhanced. Only some specific alkyl ester solvents, such as n -butyl acetate, isobutyl acetate, n -amyl acetate, are desirably fit for this unique stabilizer-free dispersion polymerization. Furthermore, we found that when some acetone is added as a cosolvent, the copolymer microspheres can still be formed, with much larger diameters. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3760,3770, 2005 [source]