Iron oxides catalyze the conversion of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) into oxidants capable of transforming recalcitrant contaminants. Unfortunately, the process is relatively inefficient at circumneutral pH values because of competing reactions that decompose H(2)O(2) without producing oxidants. Silica- and alumina-containing iron oxides prepared by sol-gel processing of aqueous solutions contai...

We demonstrate a new design concept where the interaction between silica nanoparticles (about 1.5 nm in diameter) with titania nanoparticles (anatase, about 4 nm or 6 nm in diameter) guides a successful formation of mesoporous titania with crystalline walls and controllable porosity. At an appropriate solution pH (~1.5, depending on the deprotonation tendencies of two types of nanoparticles), t...

Devices composed of transparent materials, particularly those utilizing metal oxides, are of significant interest due to increased demand from industry for higher fidelity transparent thin film transistors, photovoltaics and a myriad of other optoelectronic devices and optics that require more cost-effective and simplified processing techniques for functional oxides and coatings. Here, we repor...

After first investigations on the room temperature photoluminescence (PL) signal of porous Si [1,2], interest in the optical properties of semiconductor nanoparticles, especially porous Si and Si nanoparticles, has grown over the last decade [3,4]. Different processes for the synthesis of nanocrystalline Si (nc-Si) like Si ion implantation into high quality oxides [3], sputtering of Si-rich oxi...

Decreasing the dimensions of ionic conductors to the nanoscale has enabled the realization of new electrochemical devices integrated on Si-based and other microsystems. These comprise fast ionic conducting electrolytes for energy-applications such as micro-fuel cells [ 1,2 ] and batteries, [ 3 ] gas conversion/reformation catalysts, [ 4,5 ] sensors, [ 6 ] and for redox-reaction based resistive ...

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were prepared by the catalytic chemical vapor deposition of C2H2 at 550°C in 120 minutes using nanoparticles of Ni-Ce-Zr mixed oxides. The CNTs were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and Raman spectroscopy. The results revealed that CNTs with diameter of about 45 nm are o...

Cerium–manganese mixed oxides with compositions of Ce0.5Mn0.5O1.75 and Ce0.8Mn0.2O1.9 were prepared by the citric-acid (Pechini) method and their catalytic properties were compared to CeO2 and Mn2O3. The mixed oxides exhibited higher specific rates than either CeO2 or Mn2O3 for oxidation of both methane and nbutane. While XRD measurements of the mixed oxides suggested that the materials had pri...