Urchinlike TiO2 spheres with tunable chamber structure were synthesized using a template-free solvothermal method. The unique sphere-in-sphere chamber structure allows multiple reflections of UV light resulting in greatly enhanced photocatalytic activity. This work provided novel structural platforms for novel materials and device applications.

Cu nanowires hold great promise for the fabrication of low-cost transparent electrodes. However, their current synthesis is mainly performed in aqueous media with poor nanowire dispersibility. We report herein the novel synthesis of ultralong single-crystalline Cu nanowires with excellent dispersibility, providing an excellent candidate material for high-performance transparent electrode fabrication.

A micro-sheet anatase TiO(2) single crystal photocatalyst with a remarkable 80% level of reactive {001} facets was synthesized via a microwave-assisted hydrothermal route involving titanium tetrafluoride and a tetrafluoroborate-based ionic liquid.

Cadmium sulfide quantum dots (QDs) sensitized mesoporous TiO2 photocatalysts were prepared by preplanting cadmium oxide as crystal seeds into the framework of ordered mesoporous titanium dioxide and then converting CdO to CdS QDs through ion-exchange. The presence of CdS QDs in the TiO2 framework extended its photoresponse to the visible-light region by accelerating the photogenerated electron transfer from the inorganic sensitizer to TiO2. The new photocatalyst showed excellent photocatalytic efficiency for both oxidation of NO gas in air and degradation of organic compounds in aqueous solution under visible light irradiation. The photocatalysts were characterized byX RD, N2 adsorption-desorption, TEM, XPS, UV/vis, and PL spectroscopy. The relationship between the physicochemical properties and the photocatalytic performance of the sample is discussed.

This paper describes a nanocasting synthesis of ordered mesoporous bismuth vanadate (BiVO 4 ) crystals using bismuth nitrate hydrate and ammonia metavanadate as bismuth and vanadium sources and silica (KIT-6) as a template. Monoclinic scheelite BiVO 4 crystals were formed inside the mesopores of silica through a mild thermal process, and BiVO 4 was obtained after the removal of the hard template (silica) by NaOH treatment. As compared to conventional BiVO 4 , the product exhibited a superior photocatalytic performance in the photochemical degradation of methylene blue and photocatalytic oxidation of NO gas in air under visible light irradiation. The product was characterized by using X-ray diffraction, the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method, UV-vis light reflectance, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The relationship between the physicochemical property and the photocatalytic performance of the as-prepared samples is discussed.

Uniform cubic anatase TiO2 fully enclosed by high energy facets was prepared using green method for enhancing the photocatalytic activity.

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Protein channels in biologic systems can effectively transport ions such as proton (H(+)), sodium (Na(+)), and calcium (Ca(+)) ions. However, none of such channels is able to conduct electrons. Inspired by the biologic proton channels, we report a novel hierarchical nanostructured hydrous hexagonal WO3 (h-WO3) which can conduct both protons and electrons. This mixed protonic-electronic conductor (MPEC) can be synthesized by a facile single-step hydrothermal reaction at low temperature, which results in a three-dimensional nanostructure self-assembled from h-WO3 nanorods. Such a unique h-WO3 contains biomimetic proton channels where single-file water chains embedded within the electron-conducting matrix, which is critical for fast electrokinetics. The mixed conductivities, high redox capacitance, and structural robustness afford the h-WO3 with unprecedented electrochemical performance, including high capacitance, fast charge/discharge capability, and very long cycling life (>50,000 cycles without capacitance decay), thus providing a new platform for a broad range of applications.