http://www.hindawi.com The latest articles from Hindawi Publishing Corporation © 2013 , Hindawi Publishing Corporation . All rights reserved. Sun, 10 Mar 2013 15:54:05 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/isrn/nanomaterials/2013/745397/ SiO2 nanoparticles have been synthesized by combining Stober’s method and nonsurfactant process. The diameters and pore sizes can be controlled by altering the template and its concentration. Mesoporous SiO2 obtained this way has extremely large surface area compared with most oxide supports, which benefits the catalytic performance. Pt nanoparticles were in situ grown on and in mesoporous SiO2 nanoparticles with low amount of the metal and high load ratio. Furthermore, we firstly developed a novel route, called “one-pot” method, to prepare Pt/SiO2 catalyst where mesoporous silica preparing and Pt loading occurred in one step. This method is more efficient in saving reagent, since it can prevent Pt loss. In the meantime, it enables the template to reduce agent. The catalytic activity of Pt/SiO2 samples was measured by CO oxidation. It is indicated that the supporting silica with mesopores is more active than silica with micropores. Yingze Cao, Wentao Zhai, Xiang Zhang, Shuxi Li, Lin Feng, and Yen Wei Copyright © 2013 Yingze Cao et al. All rights reserved. Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:18:46 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/isrn/nanomaterials/2013/539534/ Nanocrystalline hydrotalcite derived mixed oxides containing magnesium, cobalt, and aluminum (MCAM) (M(1−x)AlxO(1+x/2); M = Mg or Co/Mg and Co and x = molar ratios) have been synthesized successfully and showed reversible hydrogen storage capacity at near ambient condition using fixed bed. ICP-MS and XRD analysis confirmed the adsorbent phases and their homogeneity. Adsorbent morphology and textural properties have been characterized using FESEM, BET and TEM analysis techniques. Nano-crystalline and porous mixed oxides exhibited 3 wt% H2 storage capacity and desorbed 57% of adsorbed H2. Spillover phenomena are observed through FTIR analysis. Adsorption enthalpy () and entropy () change were −25.58 kJ/mol and −59.98 J/mol·K, respectively, which implied a prospective feature of reversible hydrogen adsorption on nano-crystalline mixed oxide. M. Abdus Salam, Suriati Sufian, Ye Lwin, and T. Murugesan Copyright © 2013 M. Abdus Salam et al. All rights reserved. Sun, 30 Dec 2012 08:05:42 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/isrn/nanomaterials/2012/351205/ The presence in the space of micrometeoroids and orbital debris, particularly in the lower earth orbit, presents a continuous hazard to orbiting satellites, spacecrafts, and the international space station. Space debris includes all nonfunctional, man-made objects and fragments. As the population of debris continues to grow, the probability of collisions that could lead to potential damage will consequently increase. This work addresses a short review of the space debris “challenge” and reports on our recent results obtained on the application of self-healing composite materials on impacted composite structures used in space. Self healing materials were blends of microcapsules containing mainly various combinations of a 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene (5E2N) and dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) monomers, reacted with ruthenium Grubbs' catalyst. The self healing materials were then mixed with a resin epoxy and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) using vacuum centrifuging technique. The obtained nanocomposites were infused into the layers of woven carbon fibers reinforced polymer (CFRP). The CFRP specimens were then subjected to hypervelocity impact conditions—prevailing in the space environment—using a home-made implosion-driven hypervelocity launcher. The different self-healing capabilities were determined and the SWNT contribution was discussed with respect to the experimental parameters. B. Aïssa, K. Tagziria, E. Haddad, W. Jamroz, J. Loiseau, A. Higgins, M. Asgar-Khan, S. V. Hoa, P. G. Merle, D. Therriault, and F. Rosei Copyright © 2012 B. Aïssa et al. All rights reserved. Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:37:41 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/isrn/nanomaterials/2012/193836/ This paper critically reviews the influence of the various types of nanomaterials on the antibacterial property of the treated fabrics. The merits of each type of nanomaterial have been compared. The synthesis and application method of each type are highlighted. As the number of microorganisms is growing increasingly resistant to antibiotics, the need to treat fabrics with nano materials becomes important in order to improve the antibacterial efficacy over a range of bacterium and fungi. The various researches reported herein show a promise for wider applications in medical textiles. Nano finishes have been applied on natural materials such as cotton, wool, and silk and also synthetic materials such as PET fabrics, with interesting results. N. Gokarneshan, P. P. Gopalakrishnan, and B. Jeyanthi Copyright © 2012 N. Gokarneshan et al. All rights reserved. Thu, 29 Nov 2012 14:47:31 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/isrn/nanomaterials/2012/169850/ This study is aimed at understanding the tensile ductility and compressive strength-enhancing dual function of nanoparticles in a concentrated magnesium alloy (AZ81) nanocomposite. Si3N4 nanoparticles were selected for reinforcement purposes due to the known affinity between magnesium and nitrogen. AZ81 magnesium alloy was reinforced with Si3N4 nanoparticles using solidification processing followed by hot extrusion. The nanocomposite exhibited similar grain size and hardness to the monolithic alloy, reasonable nanoparticle distribution, and nondominant (0 0 0 2) texture in the longitudinal direction. Compared to the monolithic alloy in tension, the nanocomposite exhibited higher failure strain (+23%) without significant compromise in strength, and higher energy absorbed until fracture (EA) (+27%). Compared to the monolithic alloy in compression, the nanocomposite exhibited similar failure strain (+3%) with significant increase in strength (up to +20%) and higher EA (+24%). The beneficial effects of Si3N4 nanoparticle addition on tensile ductility and compressive strength dual enhancement of AZ81 alloy are discussed in this paper. Muralidharan Paramsothy, Xing He Tan, Jimmy Chan, Richard Kwok, and Manoj Gupta Copyright © 2012 Muralidharan Paramsothy et al. All rights reserved. Tue, 20 Nov 2012 08:48:32 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/isrn/nanomaterials/2012/865373/ An attempt has been made here to synthesize nano-powders via sol-gel process. These powders are shown to possess an f.c.c. (NaCl-type) structure with a typical lattice parameter of  Å for when decomposition of dried oxalate gel product is carried out at 600°C for 2 h in air. Moreover, they exhibit (i) clusters/agglomerates of nanosize particles and (ii) high BET specific surface area (123.0–135.5 m2/g). Also, the infrared absorption spectra reveal their strong affinity to water. The UV-Vis absorption peaks appearing at ~202 nm, 296 nm, and 379 nm are associated with oxygen defect centres and correspond to the electronic transitions (i) (, , or ), (ii) (, or ) and (iii) (), respectively. The incorporation of Ni2+ ions causes some modifications in the energy levels and the optical absorbance characteristics. The suppression of a strong broad emission peak at 440 nm and improvement of a weak band at 400 nm in the photoluminescence (PL) spectrum arise due to decrease in population density of centres (or F+ dimmers) and emergence of additional F+ centres, respectively with increase in nickel content. Nageswararao Budiredla, Ashok Kumar, Subhash Thota, and Jitendra Kumar Copyright © 2012 Nageswararao Budiredla et al. All rights reserved. Mon, 19 Nov 2012 09:30:46 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/isrn/nanomaterials/2012/816474/ The present study reports on the introduction of various nanocatalysts containing nickel (Ni) nanoparticles (NPs) embedded within TiO2 nanofibers and TiO2 microparticles. Typically, a sol-gel consisting of titanium isopropoxide and Ni NPs was prepared to produce TiO2 nanofibers by the electrospinning process. Similarly, TiO2 microparticles containing Ni were prepared using a sol-gel syntheses process. The resultant structures were studied by SEM analyses, which confirmed well-obtained nanofibers and microparticles. Further, the XRD results demonstrated the crystalline feature of both TiO2 and Ni in the obtained composites. Internal morphology of prepared nanofibers and microparticles containing Ni NPs was characterized by TEM, which demonstrated characteristic structures with good dispersion of Ni NPs. In addition, the prepared structures were studied as a model for hydrogen production applications. The catalytic activity of the prepared materials was studied by in situ hydrolysis of NaBH4, which indicated that the nanofibers containing Ni NPs can lead to produce higher amounts of hydrogen when compared to other microparticles, also reported in this paper. Overall, these results confirm the potential use of these materials in hydrogen production systems. Faheem A. Sheikh, Javier Macossay, Muzafar A. Kanjwal, Abdalla Abdal-hay, Mudasir A. Tantry, and Hern Kim Copyright © 2012 Faheem A. Sheikh et al. All rights reserved. Wed, 14 Nov 2012 11:25:33 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/isrn/nanomaterials/2012/376940/ We report the synthesis of various shaped silver nanoparticles mediated by ZnCl2 salt. It has been demonstrated that the salt, PVP/AgNO3 mole ratio, and the type of polyol (EG, DEG,and GL) significantly determined twinning probability, which is an index of silver seed growth origin. High twining probability arising from low PVP/Ag+ ratio and 50 mole% salt favours 1D grown nanowires and nanorods, whereas low twining amidst high mole% salt (150) in DEG offered 2D grown nanoflakes and nanosheets. Other shaped silver nanoparticles have been found. Accidentally, we arrived at a core-shell heterostructure of Ag-ZnO nanocomposite with Ag core enrichment when mole% of the salt was made up to 300. Growth kinetic of nanosphere obtained was monitored, and effect of salt mediation was found crucial. Structural evolution of shaped Ag nanoparticles and nanocomposites have been monitored using XRD, SEM, EDX, TEM, and UV/vis. E. O. Dare, O. W. Makinde, K. T. Ogundele, G. A. Osinkolu, Y. A. Fasasi, I. Sonde, J. T. Bamgbose, M. Maaza, J. Sithole, F. Ezema, and O. O. Adewoye Copyright © 2012 E. O. Dare et al. All rights reserved. Wed, 14 Nov 2012 09:28:35 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/isrn/nanomaterials/2012/650759/ We report a microwave-mediated simple and rapid method of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) synthesis using latex of Calotropis procera. UV-Vis spectroscopic studies indicated the formation of GNPs. The GNPs were stable at room temperature (25°C) for six months. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) micrographs of the synthesized GNPs showed the formation of spherical nanoparticles with an average size of 13 ± 5 nm. SAED and XRD confirmed the crystalline nature of GNPs. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis indicated the presence of organic coating on the nanoparticles. Cytotoxicity of the GNPs was tested on HeLa and A549 and found to be nontoxic which was indicating that latex of Calotropis procera provided the nontoxic coating on GNPs, thus can be used as biomedical and pharmacological applications. Ratul Kumar Das, Punuri Jayasekhar Babu, Nayanmoni Gogoi, Pragya Sharma, and Utpal Bora Copyright © 2012 Ratul Kumar Das et al. All rights reserved. Tue, 23 Oct 2012 13:37:45 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/isrn/nanomaterials/2012/151748/ There is an increasing demand to improve the energy density of dielectric capacitors for satisfying the next generation material systems. One effective approach is to embed high dielectric constant inclusions such as lead zirconia titanate in polymer matrix. However, with the increasing concerns on environmental safety and biocompatibility, the need to expel lead (Pb) from modern electronics has been receiving more attention. Using high aspect ratio dielectric inclusions such as nanowires could lead to further enhancement of energy density. Therefore, this paper focuses on the development of a lead-free nanowire reinforced polymer matrix capacitor for energy storage application. Lead-free sodium niobate nanowires (NaNbO3) were synthesized using hydrothermal method, followed by mixing them with polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) matrix using a solution-casting method for nanocomposites fabrication. Capacitance and breakdown strength of the samples were measured to determine the energy density. The energy density of NaNbO3/PVDF composites was also compared with that of lead-containing (PbTiO3/PVDF) nanocomposites and previously developed Pb()O3/PVDF composites to show the feasibility of replacing lead-containing materials. The energy density of NaNbO3/PVDF capacitor is comparable to those of lead-containing ones, indicating the possibility of expelling lead from high-energy density dielectric capacitors. Miguel Mendoza, Md Ashiqur Rahaman Khan, Mohammad Arif Ishtiaque Shuvo, Alberto Guerrero, and Yirong Lin Copyright © 2012 Miguel Mendoza et al. All rights reserved. Mon, 15 Oct 2012 10:12:35 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/isrn/nanomaterials/2012/659043/ Gold nanorods with localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) can be chemically synthesized. We systematically investigated the effects of reaction parameters and centrifugation on the fine tuning of the rod dimension in scale-up production (80–100 mL). Nanorods of absorption bands from 600–1050 nm were fabricated with precise control of the aspect ratio (AR) from 1.5 to 8.9. Although all chemicals are important in directing the nanostructure, silver ion concentration and seed/Au3+ ratio were the most effective variations to adjust the absorption wavelength. With a single surfactant under the influence of silver nitrate, short nanorods up to AR of 5 were synthesized with corresponding maximum absorption wavelength at 902 nm. To achieve higher aspect ratio with absorption band beyond 1,000 nm, two-surfactant growth solution was sought to further elongate the rod length. Centrifugation speed and times were found to exert significant influences on the final rod dimension, which is important during the purification process. In a relatively large quantity nanorod synthesis, even distribution and sufficient mixing of chemical ingredients play an essential role in determining the yield, uniformity, and stability of the final nanorod formation. Weihong Shi, Justin Casas, Meenakshi Venkataramasubramani, and Liang Tang Copyright © 2012 Weihong Shi et al. All rights reserved. Sun, 14 Oct 2012 14:51:18 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/isrn/nanomaterials/2012/769528/ Thermal decomposition of diorganotin(IV) derivatives of macrocycles of general formula, R2Sn(L1) and R2Sn(L2) (where R = n-butyl (1/4), methyl (2/5), and phenyl (3/6); H2L1 = 5,12-dioxa-7,14-dimethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradeca-1,8-diene and H2L2 = 6,14-dioxa-8,16-dimethyl-1,5,9,13-tetraazacyclotetradeca-1,9-diene), provides a simple route to prepare nanometric SnO2 particles. X-ray line broadening shows that the particle size varies in the range of 36–57 nm. The particle size of SnO2 obtained by pyrolysis of 3 and 5 is in the range of 5–20 nm as determined by transmission electron microscope (TEM). The surface morphology of SnO2 particles was determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Mathematical analysis of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) data shows that the first step of decomposition of compound 4 follows first-order kinetics. The energy of activation (), preexponential factor (A), entropy of activation (), free energy of activation (), and enthalpy of activation () of the first step of decomposition have also been calculated. Me2Sn(L2) and Ph2Sn(L1) are the best precursors among the studied diorganotin(IV) derivatives of macrocycles for the production of nanometric SnO2. Mala Nath and P. K. Saini Copyright © 2012 Mala Nath and P. K. Saini. All rights reserved. Sat, 29 Sep 2012 12:01:57 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/isrn/nanomaterials/2012/173198/ We try to give an explanation to the unexpected Urbach tailing associated to some phenomena which occur in some nano-compounds lattices. The provided discussion and notes are detailed here as a prelude to the lattice compatibility theory (LCT), a guide to a plausible understanding of this unsolved intrigue. K. Boubaker Copyright © 2012 K. Boubaker. All rights reserved. Sat, 29 Sep 2012 02:34:56 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/isrn/nanomaterials/2012/596125/ Dielectric anisotropy and relaxation time of a liquid crystal (LC) system, containing fullerene and methyl red (MR) dye, were studied via impedance spectroscopy technique under a bias voltage. Dye concentration is tried to be 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1% in host nematic liquid crystal coded E7. Dielectric permittivity and dielectric anisotropy values of the samples were investigated between the frequency ranges of 100–10 MHz. It is seen that dielectric anisotropy is strongly affected by doping ratio and this value decreases with increasing dye. Also, relaxation time τ and critical frequency values were calculated depending on voltage of different dye ratios. M. Okutan, O. Köysal, S. E. San, and Y. Köysal Copyright © 2012 M. Okutan et al. All rights reserved. Tue, 25 Sep 2012 15:28:24 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/isrn/nanomaterials/2012/852405/ Three samples of 4H polytype of silicon carbide (4H-SiC) covered with the following sequence of layers: carbon/nickel/silicon/nickel/silicon were investigated with micro-Raman spectroscopy. Different thermal treatments of each sample result in differences of carbon layer structure and migration of carbon atoms thorough silicide layer. Two ranges of Raman shift were investigated. The first one is placed between 1000 and 2000 . The main carbon bands D and G are observed in this range. Analysis of the positions of these bands and their intensity ratio enables one to determine the graphitization degree of carbon layer. Additional information about the changes of the carbon layer structure was derived from analysis of 2D band placed around 2700 . Application of deep ultraviolet excitation delivered information about the structure of carbon layer formed on the free surface of silicides and the distribution of the carbon inside the silicide layer. Paweł Borowicz, Adrian Kuchuk, Zbigniew Adamus, Michał Borysiewicz, Marek Ekielski, Eliana Kamińska, Anna Piotrowska, and Mariusz Latek Copyright © 2012 Paweł Borowicz et al. All rights reserved. Tue, 25 Sep 2012 13:18:57 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/isrn/nanomaterials/2012/304546/ The sol-gel process was employed in the preparation of titania-doped spherical nanosilica for application in photocatalysis. To this end, the silica matrix was doped with 1 and 10% titania, and the catalytic activity of the resulting solids in the degradation of rhodamine was tested. The synthesized materials were thermally treated at 120, 400, and 800°C. Differential thermal analysis did not evidence the titania-phase transition from anatase to rutile. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the formation of monodisperse spherical nanoparticles with sizes varying between 400 and 500 nm. The UV-Vis absorption spectra showed that the silica doped with 10% titania promoted 86% rhodamine degradation within 90 minutes, as compared to 40% in the case of the silica containing 1% titania. The silica matrix was demonstrated to affect the titania-phase transformation. L. M. L. da Silva, F. da C. Silva, A. L. de Carvalho, L. Marçal, M. Saltarelli, E. H. De Faria, L. A. Rocha, P. S. Calefi, K. J. Ciuffi, and E. J. Nassar Copyright © 2012 L. M. L. da Silva et al. All rights reserved. Mon, 24 Sep 2012 08:40:51 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/isrn/nanomaterials/2012/809063/ Polypyrrole (PPy) nanoparticles were synthesized via microemulsion polymerization technique using sodium dodecyl sulfate as surfactant. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was added as soft template during polymerization to modify the structure and properties of PPy nanoparticles. The synthesized materials namely, PVA-free and PVA added were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and DC electrical conductivity measurements. The sample synthesized in the presence of PVA has longer conjugation length as estimated from FT-IR investigation. Temperature dependence (4.2–300 K) of DC electrical conductivity measurement reveals that the PVA has a strong effect on the polymerization mechanism of PPy giving evidence of H-bonded assistance during polymerization leading to the synthesis of better ordered polymer. A growth mechanism has been proposed which explains the H-bonded assistance of PPy polymerization leading to enhanced structural ordering. Anurag Krishna, Amit Kumar, and Rajiv Kumar Singh Copyright © 2012 Anurag Krishna et al. All rights reserved. Sun, 16 Sep 2012 08:43:10 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/isrn/nanomaterials/2012/890486/ The mechanical behavior of cubic 𝛾-nanoparticles is investigated in uniaxial compression. These nanoparticles are freestanding, single crystalline and have a well-defined crystallography related to the cubic geometry (cube faces correspond to the crystallographic {100}-planes). The true values of stress and strain were measured and evaluated. With a true strength of about 3000 MPa to 5000 MPa the nanoobjects reach a significant portion of the theoretical strength. Even after a true strain of about one, no signs of particle damage are observed. Andreas Landefeld, William M. Mook, Joachim Rösler, and Johann Michler Copyright © 2012 Andreas Landefeld et al. All rights reserved. Thu, 13 Sep 2012 15:07:20 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/isrn/nanomaterials/2012/504634/ The installation for production of metal oxide nanopowders was created. The method involves evaporation of the target by a pulsed-electron beam, condensation of the vapors of the material in a low-pressure gas, and deposition of nanopowders on a cold large-area crystallizer. In a new installation, a higher-power electron gun with a hollow cathode, which ensures the formation of the current pulse of the electron beam with amplitude up to 1 A and a duration of 100 μs, and a crystallizer of a larger diameter (0.3 m) and length (0.5 m), which makes it possible to decrease the agglomeration, were used. The results of the evaporation of targets made of YSZ, CeGdO𝑥, Zn-ZnO, Al2O3, and ZnO were presented. Room-temperature ferromagnetism has been observed in YSZ, Zn-ZnO, and Cu(Al)-doped Al2O3. The proposed method makes it possible to obtain nanopowders of oxides with a characteristic particle size of 3–5 nm and agglomerates consisting of them 20–600 nm in size, specific surfaces of up 338 m2/g, productivity of up to 12 g/h, and a specific power consumption ≥112 (W h)/g. S. Yu. Sokovnin and V. G. Il'ves Copyright © 2012 S. Yu. Sokovnin and V. G. Il'ves. All rights reserved. Mon, 10 Sep 2012 10:07:02 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/isrn/nanomaterials/2012/909647/ Mo0.5W0.5O3 nanoparticles were prepared through the Pechini process and were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), FT-IR spectrometer, and differential thermal analysis (TG-DSC) analyses. The polyesterification reaction, as the starting step, has a profound influence on the dispersion of the resulting nanoparticles. The molar ratios CA : TM = 2 and EG : CA = 1.5 are favorable for the preparation of Mo0.5W0.5O3 nanoparticles having average particles size ranging from 2 to 9 nm. Meanwhile, the molar ratios CA : TM = 4 and EG : CA = 0.19 are favorable for the preparation of Mo0.5W0.5O3 nanoparticles having an average particles size ranging from 11 to 29 nm. For the calcination step, increased calcination time (eight hours) at 500°C is advantageous for allowing the monometallic phases enough time to transform into the desired bimetallic Mo0.5W0.5O3 phase. H. Hassan, T. Zaki, S. Mikhail, A. Kandil, and A. Farag Copyright © 2012 H. Hassan et al. All rights reserved. Thu, 06 Sep 2012 08:23:10 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/isrn/nanomaterials/2012/492109/ Recently, metal oxide nanolayered semiconductors revealed their increasing usefulness as UV detectors and transparent conductors in optoelectronic devices. In the present paper, a simple fabrication process has been carried out to prepare layered TCO compounds with different controlled thicknesses. Conjoint physical investigations allowed discussion of the validity of optimality in terms of geometrical parameters. A synthetic function based on pondered physical parameters was a practical guide to reach optimality. A. Boukhachem, A. Amlouk, K. Boubaker, M. Bouhafs, and M. Amlouk Copyright © 2012 A. Boukhachem et al. All rights reserved. Wed, 29 Aug 2012 10:56:42 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/isrn/nanomaterials/2012/531965/ It is shown that the variation principle can be used as a practical way to find the electron density and the total energy in the frame of the density functional theory (DFT) without solving of the Kohn-Sham equation. On examples of diatomic systems Si2, Al2, and N2, the equilibrium interatomic distances and binding energies have been calculated in good comparison with published data. The method can be improved to simulate nanoparticles containing thousands and millions atoms. Victor G. Zavodinsky and Olga A. Gorkusha Copyright © 2012 Victor G. Zavodinsky and Olga A. Gorkusha. All rights reserved. Tue, 21 Aug 2012 17:33:49 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/isrn/nanomaterials/2012/907340/ Zinc oxide thin films with honeycomb structures can be electrochemically produced by interfacial surfactant templating. Newly synthesized 4-amino-1-(2,3-dihydroxy propyl) pyridinium hydroxide ionic liquid exhibiting the hydroxyl functionalized ionic liquids (HFILs) was used in electrodeposition. This method utilizes amphiphile assemblies at the solid-liquid interface (i.e., the surface of a working electrode) as a template to gain the precisely tailor zinc oxide nanostructures. The results described here will provide a useful foundation to design and optimize greener protocol for the electrochemical construction of inorganic nanostructures thin films for possible application of films in nanotechnology field. Moreover, it is believed that this electrochemical tailoring approach can be extended to fabricate other porous metal oxide materials with a unique morphology or shape. B. G. Pawar, P. P. Salvi, and S. S. Kolekar Copyright © 2012 B. G. Pawar et al. All rights reserved. Thu, 16 Aug 2012 13:35:06 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/isrn/nanomaterials/2012/971854/ We observe hysteresis in J-E plot during field emission measurement of CNTs grown by LPCVD technique. CNTs are synthesized on Fe-coated Si substrate at 650°C. SEM and Raman study confirm that CNTs are successfully grown on Si substrate by LPCVD technique. In this study, we find that ramp-down curve has higher value of current density than ramp-up curve which indicates that CNTs show positive hysteresis. Our results show that a high current density at low turn-on voltage is obtained in ramp-down step of J-E plot which may be since not all CNTs contribute in ramp-up step process. But in ramp-down step all CNTs contribute as field emitters due to high electric field treatment. We also performed stability analysis of CNTs with current at constant applied voltage for 5 hrs and find that the sample shows long-term stability due to increase in emitting site density since a large number of CNTs participate in field emission. Shama Parveen, Samina Husain, Avshish Kumar, Javid Ali, Harsh, and Mushahid Husain Copyright © 2012 Shama Parveen et al. All rights reserved. Tue, 07 Aug 2012 10:03:28 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/isrn/nanomaterials/2012/687641/ The study of Ba-W-Ti-O ceramics has shown that the structure and composition of their interface regions differ from those in the grain bulk owing to the diffusion of tungsten atoms to the grain surface during sintering. They are determined by the conditions of compacting of dry nanopowders (compaction pressure and power of ultrasonic action) and vary in a nonmonotonic way. Increasing the pressure during dry static compacting and exposure to ultrasound result in the formation of a complex structure of fragments and boundaries between them, increasing the acoustic density and decreasing the intergranular boundary thickness. This affects the travel time of the phonon pulse through the sample, which allows one to determine the density and thickness of the grain boundaries by the method of phonon spectroscopy. O. Karban, O. Kanunnikova, E. Khazanov, E. Salamatov, O. Khasanov, and A. Taranov Copyright © 2012 O. Karban et al. All rights reserved. Tue, 31 Jul 2012 09:30:50 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/isrn/nanomaterials/2012/651468/ We report a low-temperature aqueous solution growth of uniformly aligned ZnO nanorod arrays on flexible substrates. The substrate is Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) film coated on polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Solutions with five different concentrations of the precursors with equimolar Zinc Nitrate and Hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) in distilled water were prepared to systematically study the effect of precursor solution concentration on the structural and optical properties of ZnO nanorods. It was concluded that the precursor concentration have great influence on the morphology, crystal quality, and optical property of ZnO nanorods. The diameter, density, and orientation of the nanorods are dependent on the precursor solution concentration. X-ray diffraction and micro-Raman spectroscopy showed that the ZnO nanorods with the highest concentration of 50 mM were highly aligned and have the highest level of surface coverage. It was also found that the diameter and length of the nanorods increases upon increasing precursor solution concentration. This is the first systematic investigation of studying the effect of precursor solution concentration on the quality of ZnO nanorods grown on ITO/PET substrates by low-temperature solution method. We believe that our work will contribute to the realization of flexible organic-inorganic hybrid solar cell based on ZnO nanorods and conjugated polymer. Fei Tong, Kyusang Kim, Yaqi Wang, Resham Thapa, Yogesh Sharma, Aaron Modic, Ayayi Claude Ahyi, Tamara Issacs-Smith, John Williams, Hosang Ahn, Hyejin Park, Dong-Joo Kim, Sungkoo Lee, Eunhee Lim, Kyeong K. Lee, and Minseo Park Copyright © 2012 Fei Tong et al. All rights reserved. Thu, 26 Jul 2012 11:43:04 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/isrn/nanomaterials/2012/207043/ We use semiclassical Monte Carlo approach along with spin density matrix calculations to model spin polarized electron transport. The model is applied to germanium nanowires and germanium two-dimensional channels to study and compare spin relaxation between them. Spin dephasing in germanium occurs because of Rashba Spin Orbit Interaction (structural inversion asymmetry) which gives rise to the D’yakonov-Perel (DP) relaxation. In germanium spin flip scattering due to the Elliot-Yafet (EY) mechanism also leads to spin relaxation. The spin relaxation tests for both 1D and 2D channels are carried out at different values of temperature and driving electric field, and the variation in spin relaxation length is recorded. Spin relaxation length in a nanowire is found to be much higher than that in a 2D channel due to suppression of DP relaxation in a nanowire. At lower temperatures the spin relaxation length increases. This suggests that spin relaxation in germanium occurs slowly in a 1D channel (nanowires) and at lower temperatures. The electric field dependence of spin relaxation length was found to be very weak. Ashish Kumar, M. W. Akram, and Bahniman Ghosh Copyright © 2012 Ashish Kumar et al. All rights reserved. Tue, 17 Jul 2012 14:17:33 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/isrn/nanomaterials/2012/429348/ The mechanical properties of hydrogenated silicon thin films deposited using high-frequency PECVD process were studied, which certainly have importance for optoelectronic devices particularly for getting stability and long operating lifetime in harsh conditions. Nanoindentation technique was used to measure the load versus displacement curves, hardness (H), elastic modulus (E), plastic resistance parameter (H/E), elastic recovery (ER), and plastic deformation energy (𝑈𝑟), while laser scanning stress measurement setup was used to measure the intrinsic stress of these films. The concentration of bonded hydrogen in these films was found in the range of 3.6 to 6.5 at. % which was estimated using integrated intensity of IR absorption peak near 640 cm−1. Dependence of mechanical properties of these films on hydrogen content and bonding environment has been investigated. The film containing minimum hydrogen content (3.6%) shows the maximum elastic recovery (52.76%) and minimum plastic deformation energy (3.95×10−10 J). Surface roughness measured by AFM was found to decrease with the increase in hydrogen content in the film. The dependency of stress on the plasma frequency and applied power has also been discussed. Jhuma Gope, Sushil Kumar, A. Parashar, S. Dayal, C. M. S. Rauthan, and P. C. Srivastava Copyright © 2012 Jhuma Gope et al. All rights reserved. Mon, 18 Jun 2012 14:34:09 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/isrn/nanomaterials/2012/502960/ Here, we demonstrate the formation of porous gold nanowires with diameters <60 nm by a two-step process involving the successive electrodeposition of silver then gold into the pores of a track-etched polycarbonate filtration membrane, followed by treatment with nitric acid. The resulting nanowires possess a unique, highly porous morphology, which yields a very high accessible surface area to volume ratio compared to solid nanowires of the same dimensions. Combined with the high aspect ratio of these particles (which allows for easy isolation from solution), this makes them eminently suitable for use in catalysis and sensing applications. The formation of such porous gold nanostructures was ascertained to result from the low diffusivity of the silver species within the narrow membrane pores. Lucas P. Johnson and Janis G. Matisons Copyright © 2012 Lucas P. Johnson and Janis G. Matisons. All rights reserved.