The structure of core-shell Cu@silica and Ag@Si nanoparticles obtained in one-step through evaporation of elemental precursors by a high-powered electron beam are investigated. The structure of the core and shell of the particles are investigated in order to elucidate their mechanisms of formation and factors affecting the synthesis. It is proposed that the formation of Cu@silica particles is m...

In this paper, we show that the onset potential for CO oxidation electrocatalyzed by ∼2 nm dendrimer-encapsulated Pt nanoparticles (Pt DENs) is shifted negative by ∼300 mV in the presence of a small percentage (<2%) of Cu surface atoms. Theory and experiments suggest that the catalytic enhancement arises from a cocatalytic Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism in which the small number of Cu atoms sel...

Au-Cu alloys are functional materials with nonlinear optical applications. However, the optical properties of such alloys are difficult to predict due to the random mixing of materials. In this paper, we present a quasi-chemical model to simulate the optical properties of Au-Cu alloy systems based on the mixing of Gibbs free energy. This model is also able to predict the position of the surface...

An efficient and green microwave-assisted heterogeneous S-arylation protocol, reported for the first time, provided excellent coupling conversions and selectivities in minutes of reaction using Fe (homocoupling) and Cu (cross-coupling) supported metal nanoparticles.

Using a low power green laser, we have demonstrated a rate acceleration of ~2-fold for the hydrolysis of methyl parathion by irradiating the plasmon absorption band of Au nanoparticles capped with a Cu(bpy) catalyst.

Producing solution-based metal nanoparticles that do not agglomerate at elevated temperatures remains challenging. We show that thermally stable Au and Cu nanoparticles can be prepared using polystyrene-poly(4-vinylpyridine) diblock copolymers as capping agents. These materials remain stable when their solutions are subjected to prolonged heating up to 160 °C for more than 48 h. These condition...

Unique magnetite-nanoparticles-attached necklace-like Cu@cross-linked poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) microcables with multi-functionalities can be synthesized by in situ loading the magnetite nanoparticles in the network structure of a cross-linked PVA sheath using a modified polyol method; the superparamagnetic and green fluorescent properties of the cables enable this type of magnetic functionaliz...

The content of metal elements in plant tissues of 10-day wheat seedlings after seed pre-treatment and foliar treatment with non-ionic colloidal solution of metal nanoparticles (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn) was determined by an atomic absorption spectrometer. It was shown that metal nanoparticles due to their physical properties (nanoscale and uncharged state) were capable of penetrating rapidly into plant c...

By chemically modifying the nucleation burst that generates monodisperse FePt nanocrystals, a mixture of Pt and Fe(x)Pt(1-x) nanoparticles forms during a one-pot reaction that includes a small amount of Cu as a catalyst; size-selective precipitation yields a bi-disperse population of Fe(x)Pt(1-x) nanoparticles, which can assemble into high-quality AB2, AB5, and AB13 superlattice structures.

Interfacial interactions between late transition metal/metal oxide nanoparticles and oxide supports impact catalytic activity and stability. Here, we report the use of isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), electron microscopy and density functional theory (DFT) to explore periodic trends in the heats of nanoparticle-support interactions for late transition metal and metal oxide nanoparticles ...