Abstract: The three-dimensional (3D) structure and chemical composition of bamboo-like carbon nanotubes including the catalyst particles that are. used during their growth are studied by discrete electron tomography in combination with energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy. It is found that cavities are present in the catalyst particles. Furthermore, only a small percentage of the catalyst particles consist of pure Cu, since a large volume fraction of the particles is oxidized to CU(2)0. These volume fractions are determined quantitatively from 3D reconstructions obtained by discrete tomography.

Abstract: The transport and magnetic measurements of polycrystalline Pb1.6V8O16 hollandite reveal a concomitant metal to insulator and antiferromagnetic transition at TMI≈140 K. A clear localization is found below TMI, evidenced by a rapid increase in the absolute value of the negative Seebeck coefficient. The structural study by x-ray and transmission electron microscopy confirms the hollandite structure and shows that no structural transition occurs at TMI, ruling out a possible charge orbital ordering. The negative Seebeck coefficient observed from 50 K up to 900 K, with values reaching S=−38 μV K−1 at 900 K, is explained by the electron doping of ∼1.4e− in the V empty t2g orbitals responsible for the bad metal resistivity (ρ900 K∼2 mΩ cm). As this S value is close to that obtained by considering only the spin and orbital degeneracies, it is expected that |S| for such vanadates will not be sensitive at high temperature to the t2g band filling

Abstract: The variation of structures and superconducting properties by changing extra oxygen or fluorine atoms concentration in Hg-based Cu mixed oxides and YBa2Cu3O6+delta was studied. The data obtained by NPD study of Hg-1201 can be considered as an evidence of the conventional oxygen doping mechanism with 2 delta holes per (CuO2) layer. The extra oxygen atom was found to be located in the middle of the Hg mesh only. Different formal charges of oxygen and fluorine inserted into reduced 123 structure results in its distinct variations. The fluorine incorporation into strongly reduced YBa2Cu3O6+delta causes a significant structural rearrangement and the formation of a new compound with a composition close to YBa2Cu3O6F2 (tetragonal alpha = 3.87 Angstrom and c approximate to 13 Angstrom), which structure was deduced from the combined results of X-ray diffraction, electron diffraction and high resolution electron microscopy. Fluorination treatment by XeF2 of nonsuperconducting 123 samples causes an appearance of bulk superconductivity with T-c up to 94K.

Abstract: Theoretical studies exist to compute the atomic arrangement in gold nanowires and the influence on their electronic behavior with decreasing diameter. Experimental studies, e.g., by transmission electron microscopy, on chemically synthesized ultrafine wires are however lacking owing to the unavailability of suitable protocols for sample preparation and the stability of the wires under electron beam irradiation. In this work, we present an atomic scale structural investigation on quantum single crystalline gold nanowires of 2 nm diameter, chemically prepared on a carbon film grid. Using low dose aberration-corrected high resolution (S)TEM, we observe an inhomogeneous strain distribution in the crystal, largely concentrated at the twin boundaries and the surface along with the presence of facets and surface steps leading to a noncircular cross section of the wires. These structural aspects are critical inputs needed to determine their unique electronic character and their potential as a suitable catalyst material. Furthermore, electron-beam-induced structural changes at the atomic scale, having implications on their mechanical behavior and their suitability as interconnects, are discussed.

Abstract: Thermally induced oxygen release is an intrinsic structural instability in layered cathodes, which causes thermal runaway issues and becomes increasingly critical with the continuous improvement in energy density. Furthermore, thermal runaway events always occur in electrochemically aged cathodes, where the coupling of the thermal and electrochemical effect remains elusive. Herein, we report the anomalous segregation of cobalt metal in an aged LiCoO2 cathode, which is attributed to the local exposure of the high-energy (100) surface of LiCoO2 and weak interface Co-O dangling bonds significantly promoting the diffusion of Co. The presence of the LCO-Co interface severely aggregated the oxygen release in the form of dramatic Co growth. A unique particle-to-particle oxygen release pathway was also found, starting from the isolated high reduction areas induced by the cycling heterogeneity. This study provides atomistic insight into the robust coupling between the intrinsic structural instability and electrochemical cycling.

Abstract: Thickness-driven electronic phase transitions are broadly observed in different types of functional perovskite heterostructures. However, uncertainty remains whether these effects are solely due to spatial confinement, broken symmetry, or rather to a change of structure with varying film thickness. Here, this study presents direct evidence for the relaxation of oxygen-2p and Mn-3d orbital (p-d) hybridization coupled to the layer-dependent octahedral tilts within a La2/3Sr1/3MnO3 film driven by interfacial octahedral coupling. An enhanced Curie temperature is achieved by reducing the octahedral tilting via interface structure engineering. Atomically resolved lattice, electronic, and magnetic structures together with X-ray absorption spectroscopy demonstrate the central role of thickness-dependent p-d hybridization in the widely observed dimensionality effects present in correlated oxide heterostructures.

Abstract: Thin films of SrFeO3-x (0 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 0.5) (SFO) grown on a (LaAlO3)(0.3) (SrAl0.5Ta0.5O3)(0.7) (LSAT) substrate by Pulsed laser deposition have been structurally investigated by electron diffraction and high resolution transmission electron microscopy for different post-deposition oxygen treatments. During the deposition and post-growth oxidation, the oxygen-reduced SFO films accept extra oxygen along the tetrahedral layers to minimize the elastic strain energy. The oxidation process stops at a concentration SFO2.875 and/or SFO2.75 because a zero misfit with the LSAT substrate is reached. A possible growth mechanism and phase transition mechanism are suggested. The non-oxidized films exhibit twin boundaries having a local perovskite-type structure with a nominal composition close to SFO3.

Abstract: This paper aims to give an overview of the technique of energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM). It explains the basic principles of the technique and points to the relevant literature for more detailed issues. Experimental examples are given to show the power of EFTEM to study the chemical composition of nanoscale samples in materials science. Advanced EFTEM applications like imaging spectroscopy and EFTEM tomography are briefly discussed. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract: This paper presents a cyclic catalyst pretreatment process to improve the CNF yield with narrow size distribution by sequentially feeding the CVD reactor with CH4/CO2 mixtures (carbon deposition) and CO2 (carbon removal) prior to the actual growth process. A mechanism based on a break-up of large Ni particles tentatively explains the beneficial effect of the cyclic carbon deposition/removal CVD procedure.

Abstract: This work compares the morphology of gold nanoparticles (NPs) produced at room temperature on single-crystalline (MgO nanocubes and plates) and amorphous (carbon/glass plates) substrates by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). The results show that similar deposition and nucleation rates (>5×1013 cm−2 s−1) are achieved irrespective of the nature of the substrate. Instead, the shape of NPs is substrate dependent, i.e., quasispheres and faceted NPs in amorphous and single-crystalline substrates, respectively. The shape of the latter is octahedral for small NPs and truncated octahedral for large ones, with the degree of truncation being well explained using the Wulff-Kaichew theorem. Furthermore, epitaxial growth at room temperature is demonstrated for single-crystalline substrate. The large fraction of ions having energies higher than 200 eV and the large flux of species arriving to the substrate (1016 at. cm−2 s−1) involved in the PLD process are, respectively, found to be responsible for the high nucleation rates and epitaxial growth at room temperature.

Abstract: This work presents a new carbonsilica hybrid material, denoted as CSM, with remarkable sorption properties. It consists of intraporous graphitic nanocrystals grown in the pores of mesoporous silica. CSM is obtained by a subtle incipient wetness impregnation of Al-containing mesoporous silica with furfuryl alcohol (FA)/hemelitol solutions. Both the volume match of the impregnation solution with that of the silica template pore volume, and the presence of Al3+ in the silica, are crucial to polymerize FA selectively inside the mesopores. Carbonization of the intraporous polymer was then performed by pyrolysis under He up to 1273 K. The resulting CSMs were examined by SEM, HRTEM, 27Al MAS NMR, N2 adsorption, XRD, TGA, TPD, XPS, pycnometry and Raman spectroscopy. Mildly oxidized graphitic-like carbon nanoblocks, consisting of a few graphene-like sheets, were thus identified inside the template mesopores. Random stacking of these carbon crystallites generates microporosity resulting in biporous materials at low carbon content and microporous materials at high carbon loadings. Very narrow pore distributions were obtained when pyrolysis was carried out under slow heating rate, viz. 1 K min−1. Adsorption and shape selective properties of the carbon filled mesoporous silica were studied by performing pulse chromatography and breakthrough experiments, and by measuring adsorption isotherms of linear and branched alkanes. Whereas the parent mesoporous silica shows unselective adsorption, their CSM analogues preferentially adsorb linear alkanes. The sorption capacity and selectivity can be adjusted by changing the pore size of the template or by varying the synthesis conditions. A relation between the carbon crystallites size and the shape selective behaviour of the corresponding CSM for instance is demonstrated. Most interestingly, CSM shows separation factors for linear and branched alkanes up to values comparable to those of zeolitic molecular sieves.

Abstract: Three different perovskite-related phases were isolated in the SrGa(1-x)Sc(x)O(2.5) system: Sr(2)GaScO(5), Sr(10)Ga(6)Sc(4)O(25), and SrGa(0.75)Sc(0.25)O(2.5), Sr(2)GaScO(5) (x = 0.5) crystallizes in a brownrnillerite-type structure [space group (S.G.) Icmm, a = 5.91048(5) angstrom, b = 15.1594(1) angstrom, and c = 5.70926(4) angstrom] with complete ordering of Sc(3+) and Ga(3+) over octahedral and tetrahedral positions, respectively. The crystal structure of Sr(10)Ga(6)Sc(4)O(25) (x = 0.4) was determined by the Monte Carlo method and refined using a combination of X-ray, neutron, and electron diffraction data [S.G. I4(1)/a, a = 17.517(1) angstrom, c = 32.830(3) angstrom]. It represents a novel type of ordering of the B cations and oxygen vacancies in perovskites. The crystal structure of Sr(10)Ga(6)Sc(4)O(25) can be described as a stacking of eight perovskite layers along the c axis ...[-(Sc/Ga)O(1.6)-SrO(0.8)-(Sc/Ga)O(1.8)-SrO(0.8)-](2 center dot center dot center dot) Similar to Sr(2)GaScO(5), this structure features a complete ordering of the Sc(3+) and Ga(3+) cations over octahedral and tetrahedral positions, respectively, within each layer. A specific feature of the crystal structure of Sr(10)Ga(6)Sc(4)O(25) is that one-third of the tetrahedra have one vertex not connected with other Sc/Ga cations. Further partial replacement of Sc(3+) by Ga(3+) leads to the formation of the cubic perovskite phase SrGa(0.75)Sc(0.25)O(2.5) (x = 0.25) with a = 3.9817(4) angstrom. This compound incorporates water molecules in the structure forming SrGa(0.75)Sc(0.25)O(2.5)center dot xH(2)O hydrate, which exhibits a proton conductivity of similar to 2.0 x 10(-6) S/cm at 673 K.

Abstract: Three series of poly(butylene succinate) (PBSu) nanocomposites containing 0.5, 1 and 2.5 wt% strontium hydroxyapatite [Sr-5(PO4)(3)OH] nanorods (SrHAp nrds) were prepared by in situ polymerisation. The structural effects of Sr-5(PO4)(3)OH nanorods, for the different concentrations, inside the polymeric matrix (PBSu), were studied through high angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM). HAADF-STEM measurements revealed that the SrHAp nanorods at low concentrations are dispersed inside the polymeric PBSu matrix while in 1 wt% some aggregates are formed. These aggregations affect the mechanical properties giving an enhancement for the concentration of 0.5 wt% SrHAp nrds in tensile strength, while a reduction is recorded for higher loadings of the nanofiller. Studies on enzymatic hydrolysis revealed that all nanocomposites present higher hydrolysis rates than neat PBSu, indicating that nanorods accelerate the hydrolysis degradation process. In vitro bioactivity tests prove that SrHAp nrds promote the formation of hydroxyapatite on the PBSu surface. All nanocomposites were tested also in relevant cell culture using osteoblast-like cells (MG-63) to demonstrate their biocompatibility showing SrHAp nanorods support cell attachment.

Abstract: Thumbnail image of graphical abstract It is well known that metals with higher electron affinity like Au tend to undergo reduction rather than cation-exchange. It is experimentally shown that under certain conditions cation-exchange is dominant over reduction. Thermodynamic calculation further consolidates the understanding and paves the way for better predictability of cation-exchange/reduction reactions for other systems.

Abstract: Titanate nanotubes were prepared via a hydrothermal treatment of TiO2 powders (Riedel De Haen) in a basic solution. Morphology and structure of the prepared samples were characterized by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), XRD, FT-Raman spectroscopy, nitrogen sorption and DSC. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by photocatalytic oxidation of rhodamine 6G. Trititanate nanotubes (TTNT) with inner pore diameters between 4 and 4.2 nm and surface areas up till 360 m(2)/g could be synthesized. The synthesis route was modified by introduction of a calcination step, by applying a lower hydrothermal temperature and microwave irradiation in order to increase the photocatalytic activity of the porous photoactive nanotubular materials. Calcination and a softer hydrothermal treatment led to the formation of anatase without affecting the surface area and nanotubular shape of the samples. In this way, the photocatalytic activity of the original trititanate nanotubes could be significantly increased. By making use of microwave assisted synthesis, the photocatalytic activity call also be increased due to the presence of anatase. However, by applying microwave synthesis, a different structure was obtained, nanoribbons (NR) instead of nanotubcs, resulting in a decrease in surface area and porosity.