[en] ZnS nanoparticles about 3 nm in size were prepared by a simple, rapid and reliable route under microwave irradiation in a heterogeneous system, using ZnAc₂·2H₂O (Ac-CH₃COO) and Na₂S·9H₂O as the starting materials, ethylene glycol (EG) as the medium. The product was characterized with X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and ED, respectively. The optical properties of ZnS nanoparticles were studied

[en] Large-scale of long NbS₂ nanowire strands were successfully synthesized by a catalyzed transport reaction involving C₆₀. The strands have a diameter of 1-2 μm and length up to 0.5 mm, which are composed of single nanowire. The diameter of single nanowire is 1.6-20 nm. The products were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Probable mechanisms for catalytic growth were proposed

[en] The objective of this research is to explore an appropriate way of monitoring and assessing water quality by satellite remote sensing techniques in the Miyun reservoir of Beijing, China. Two scene Thematic Mapper images in May and October of 2003 were acquired and simultaneous in situ measurements, sampling and analysis were conducted. Statistical analysis indicates that satellite-based normalized ratio vegetation index (NRVI) and in situ measured water chlorophyll a (Chl-a) concentration have very high correlation. Two linear regression models with high determination coefficients were constructed for NRVI and Chl-a of sample points. According to the modified trophic state index map, water quality in the western section of Miyun reservoir was consistently higher than in the eastern section during the two months tested. The trophic grade of the eastern reservoir remained mesotrophic with a tendency for eutrophication. - Remote sensing techniques can effectively monitor the change of water quality with time and space

[en] Dumbbell-shaped barium carbonate superstructures were successfully synthesized in the aqueous system containing egg albumin and ethylenediaminetetraacetate disodium (EDTA-2Na), employing BaCl₂, NaHCO₃ and NH₃.H₂O as the starting reagents. The as-prepared product was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Some factors influencing the morphology of BaCO₃ crystals, such as the time, the amounts of egg albumin and EDTA-2Na, were studied. Experimental facts showed that a proper amount of egg albumin and EDTA-2Na played crucial roles in the formation of dumbbell-shaped BaCO₃ superstructures.

[en] Urchin-like CuO microspheres have been successfully synthesized via a simple water-ethyleneglycol (water-EG) mixed-solvothermal route at 100 deg. C for 12 h, employing cupric chloride (CuCl₂) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) as starting reactants in the absence of any surfactant or template. The as-obtained product was characterized by means of powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). It was found that the volume ratio of water and EG played an important role in the formation of urchin-like CuO microspheres. The UV-vis absorption and the photocatalytic degradation for organic dyes of the final product were also studied.

[en] In this paper, we reported the successful synthesis of hollow hemispherical Mn₁₁(HPO₃)₈(OH)₆ superstructures on a large scale via a facile mixed-solvothermal route without assistance of any surfactant, employing MnAc₂.4H₂O and NaH₂PO₂.H₂O as the reactants, the mixture of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and water as the solvent. The reaction was carried out at 160 deg. C for 12 h. HPO₃^2- ions were provided via the dismutation reaction of H₂PO₂^- ions. The as-obtained product was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Some factors influencing the morphology of the hollow hemispherical Mn₁₁(HPO₃)₈(OH)₆ superstructures, such as the reaction temperature, time, the amount of NaH₂PO₂, and the volume ratio of DMF/water, were systematically investigated. A possible growth mechanism was proposed based on experimental results.

[en] The perovskite single-crystalline LaMnO₃ nanocubes have been fabricated through a facile salt-assisted solution combustion process, using ethylene glycol as a fuel and corresponding nitrates as oxidants. The effects of the fuel-to-oxidant molar ratio and the fraction of added NaCl on the phase and microstructure of the products were investigated by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and selected area electron diffraction. The possible mechanism about the effect of molten salt on morphological evolution of the as-prepared LaMnO₃ particles in salt-assisted solution combustion synthesis was also discussed.

[en] In the present paper, ZnO nanorods with the mean size of 50 nm x 250 nm were successfully synthesized via a hydrothermal synthesis route in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). ZnCl₂ and KOH were used as the starting materials and zinc oxide nanorods were obtained at 120 deg. C for 5 h. The product was characterized by means of X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). The optical properties of the product were studied. Some factors affecting the morphologies and optical properties were also investigated

[en] We report the successful preparation of flower-like ZnO microstructures in one step by a simple, rapid and reliable ultrasound irradiation route, using only Zn(CH₃COO)₂ and NaOH as starting materials. The product was characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The UV-vis absorption and emission spectra, photocatalytic activity and electrochemical properties of the as-obtained flower-like ZnO microstructures were studied

[en] In this paper, we report the successful synthesis of NiTiO₃ microtubes constructed by nearly spherical nanoparticles via a simple solution-combusting method employing a mixture of ethanol and ethyleneglycol (V/V = 60/40) as the solvent, nickel acetate as the nickel source, tetra-n-butyl titanate as the titanium source and oxygen gas in the atmosphere as the oxygen source. The as-obtained product was characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS). The UV-vis absorption spectrum of the product showed two absorption peaks centered at 258.6 and 350.1 nm, respectively. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area of the product was 14.06 m²/g and the pore size distribution mainly located from 20 to 30 nm. The photocatalytic degradation property of the product for organic dyes showed that the as-obtained porous NiTiO₃ microtubes could strongly promote the degradation of organic dyes including Pyronine B, Safranine T and Fluorescein.