Browsing by Subject "Ceramic materials"

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Open Access
Chiral ceramic nanoparticles and peptide catalysis
(American Chemical Society, 2017) Jiang S.; Chekini, M.; Qu, Z.-B.; Wang Y.; Yeltik A.; Liu, Y.; Kotlyar, A.; Zhang, T.; Li, B.; Demir, Hilmi Volkan; Kotov, N. A.
The chirality of nanoparticles (NPs) and their assemblies has been investigated predominantly for noble metals and II-VI semiconductors. However, ceramic NPs represent the majority of nanoscale materials in nature. The robustness and other innate properties of ceramics offer technological opportunities in catalysis, biomedical sciences, and optics. Here we report the preparation of chiral ceramic NPs, as represented by tungsten oxide hydrate, WO3-x·H2O, dispersed in ethanol. The chirality of the metal oxide core, with an average size of ca. 1.6 nm, is imparted by proline (Pro) and aspartic acid (Asp) ligands via bio-to-nano chirality transfer. The amino acids are attached to the NP surface through C-O-W linkages formed from dissociated carboxyl groups and through amino groups weakly coordinated to the NP surface. Surprisingly, the dominant circular dichroism bands for NPs coated by Pro and Asp are different despite the similarity in the geometry of the NPs; they are positioned at 400-700 nm and 500-1100 nm for Pro- and Asp-modified NPs, respectively. The differences in the spectral positions of the main chiroptical band for the two types of NPs are associated with the molecular binding of the two amino acids to the NP surface; Asp has one additional C-O-W linkage compared to Pro, resulting in stronger distortion of the inorganic crystal lattice and greater intensity of CD bands associated with the chirality of the inorganic core. The chirality of WO3-x·H2O atomic structure is confirmed by atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. The proximity of the amino acids to the mineral surface is associated with the catalytic abilities of WO3-x·H2O NPs. We found that NPs facilitate formation of peptide bonds, leading to Asp-Asp and Asp-Pro dipeptides. The chiroptical activity, chemical reactivity, and biocompatibility of tungsten oxide create a unique combination of properties relevant to chiral optics, chemical technologies, and biomedicine.
Open Access
Fabrication of flexible polymer–GaN core–shell nanofibers by the combination of electrospinning and hollow cathode plasma-assisted atomic layer deposition
(Royal Society of Chemistry, 2015) Ozgit Akgun, C.; Kayaci, F.; Vempati S.; Haider A.; Celebioglu A.; Goldenberg, E.; Kizir S.; Uyar, Tamer; Bıyıklı, Necmi
Here we demonstrate the combination of electrospinning and hollow cathode plasma-assisted atomic layer deposition (HCPA-ALD) processes by fabricating flexible polymer-GaN organic-inorganic core-shell nanofibers at a processing temperature much lower than that needed for the preparation of conventional GaN ceramic nanofibers. Polymer-GaN organic-inorganic core-shell nanofibers fabricated by the HCPA-ALD of GaN on electrospun polymeric (nylon 6,6) nanofibers at 200 °C were characterized in detail using electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, selected area electron diffraction, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, photoluminescence measurements, and dynamic mechanical analysis. Although transmission electron microscopy studies indicated that the process parameters should be further optimized for obtaining ultimate uniformity and conformality on these high surface area 3D substrates, the HCPA-ALD process resulted in a ∼28 nm thick polycrystalline wurtzite GaN layer on polymeric nanofibers of an average fiber diameter of ∼70 nm. Having a flexible polymeric core and low processing temperature, these core-shell semiconducting nanofibers might have the potential to substitute brittle ceramic GaN nanofibers, which have already been shown to be high performance materials for various electronic and optoelectronic applications.
Open Access
Synthesis, characterization, and wear and friction properties of variably structured SiC/Si elements made from wood by molten Si impregnation
(2012) Dhiman, R.; Rana, K.; Bengu, E.; Morgen P.
We have synthesized pre-shaped SiC/Si ceramic material elements from charcoal (obtained from wood) by impregnation with molten silicon, which takes place in a two-stage process. In the first process, a porous structure of connected micro-crystals of β-SiC is formed, while, in the second process, molten Si totally or partly infiltrates the remaining open regions. This process forms a dense material with cubic (β-)SiC crystallites, of which the majority is imbedded in amorphous Si. The synthesis of preshaped "sprocket" elements demonstrates that desired shapes of such a dense SiC/Si composite ceramic material can be achieved, thus suggesting new industrial applications. The structure and composition of numerous as-synthesized samples were characterized in detail by using a wide range of techniques. Wear and friction properties were also investigated, with polished samples. The properties found for the present samples are very promising for abrasive applications and for new generation brake systems. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.