We report a new phenomenon, named here as the "lens" effect, in the directed-assembly process of nanowires (NWs) on self-assembled monolayer (SAM) patterns. In this process, the adsorption of NWs is focused in the nanoscale regions at the center of microscale SAM patterns with gradient surface molecular density just like an optical lens focuses light. As a proof of concepts, we successfully dem...

An isolate from polluted soil identified as Aspergillus sp. MS-100 was able to consume vanadium oxide octaethyl porphyrin as a model for protoporphyrins in crude oil. The isolate degrades about 55% of vanadium oxide octaethyl porphyrin (VOOEP) under optimum conditions during 7 days. The release of more than 0.96 mgl-1 of free vanadium into the aqueous phase was confirmed using atomic absorption...

The molecular structures and surface chemistry of mixed metal oxide heteropolyoxo vanadium tungstate (H(3+x)PW(12-x)V(x)O(40) with x = 0, 1, 2, and 3) Keggin nanoparticles (NPs), where vanadium is incorporated into the primary Keggin structure, and supported VO(x) on tungstophosphoric acid (TPA, H(3)PW(12)O(40)), where vanadium is present on the surface of the Keggin unit, were investigated wit...

This work reports the formation of self-organized Zircaloy-4 (Zr-4) oxide nanotubes in viscous organic ethylene glycol (EG) electrolyte containing a small amount of fluoride salt and deionized (DI) water via an electrochemical anodization. The structure, morphology, and composition of the Zr-4 oxide nanotubes were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transm...

The oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of propane to propylene by supported vanadia catalysts has received much attention in recent years, but different reactivity trends have been reported for this catalytic reaction system. In the present investigation, the origin of these differing trends are investigated with synthesis of supported V/SiO2, V/TiO2, and V/Al2O3 catalysts prepared with three diff...

The effect of the irradiation with Al Ka X-rays during an XPS measurement upon the surface vanadium oxidation state of a fresh in vacuum cleaved V2O5(001) crystal was examined. Afterwards, the surface reduction of the V2O5(001) surface under Ar + bombardment was studied. The degree of reduction of the vanadium oxide was determined by means of a combined analysis of the O1s and V2p photoelectron...

Neutral vanadium, niobium, and tantalum oxide clusters are studied by single photon ionization employing a 26.5 eV/photon soft x-ray laser. During the ionization process the metal oxide clusters are almost free of fragmentation. The most stable neutral clusters of vanadium, niobium, and tantalum oxides are of the general form (MO2)0,1(M2O5)y. M2O5 is identified as a basic building unit for thes...

V2O5 based materials are attractive cathode alternatives due to the many oxidation state switches of vanadium bringing about a high theoretical specific capacity. However, significant capacity losses are eminent for crystalline V2O5 phases related to the irreversible phase transformations and/or vanadium dissolution starting from the first discharge cycle. These problems can be circumvented if ...

Thermodynamics of reactions of vanadium oxide clusters with SO2 are studied at the BPW91/LANL2DZ level of theory. BPW91/LANL2DZ is insufficient to properly describe relative V-O and S-O bond strengths of vanadium and sulfur oxides. Calibration of theoretical results with experimental data is necessary to compute reliable enthalpy changes for reactions between VxOy and SO2. Theoretical results i...

Boosted by the rapid advances of science and technology in the field of energy materials, Li-ion batteries have achieved significant progress in energy storage performance since their commercial debut in 1991. The development of nanostructured electrode material is regarded as one of the key potentials for the further advancement in Li-ion batteries. This feature article summarizes our recent e...