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An amine-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) was prepared for use as a basic heterogeneous catalyst for the conversion of Cocos nucifera (coconut) oil and Hibiscus cannabinus (kenaf) oil to biodiesel. The 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (3-APTMS) was chosen to form an amine-reactive surface to bind with hydroxyl (-OH) and carboxyl (-COOH) groups of oxidized MWCNT. Silanization took place using a green surface modification method in which supercritical carbon dioxide fluid was utilized under the following conditions: 55 °C, 9 MPa, and 1 h. The synthesized catalyst was characterized using Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Field emission scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive x-ray (FESEM-EDX), Time-offlight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET). Transesterification of coconut oil using 10 wt% NH2-MWCNT catalyst (3 wt% APTMS), 12:1 molar ratio of methanol and oil at 63 °C for 1 h resulted in a >95% conversion. On the other hand, the same catalyst was used in the transesterification of kenaf oil, and formation of ammonium carboxylated salt was observed. The effects of temperature, pressure, and silane concentration on surface modification of MWCNT were evaluated in terms of the catalyst's basic site density and fatty acid methyl ester conversion. The results indicate that reaction temperature and silane concentration had the most significant effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve high-efficiency oxygen permeation using mixed (ionic and electronic) conducting perovskite-type oxides, we examined asymmetric-structured membranes of La0.6Ca0.4CoO3in which a thin dense membrane was deposited on a porous support. The La0.6Ca0.4CoO3porous support was fabricated using irregular-shaped precursor particles prepared through an oxalate method. The fabricated support had good gas permeability and thermal stability, showing sufficient properties as a support for dense thin membranes. A dense membrane of 10 µm thickness was successfully formed on the porous support by coating a La0.6Ca0.4CoO3slurry and subsequent densification by sintering. The deposited thin membrane was gastight and free from clacks, as revealed by gas permeation tests and SEM observations. The asymmetric membrane exhibited a high oxygen permeability of 1.66 cm3(STP, standard temperature and pressure) min-1cm-2at 930 °C, which was four times higher than that of a typical sintered-disk type membrane with 1200 µm thickness, demonstrating its feasibility as a high-performance oxygen separation membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uniformly nanosized particles of olivine LiMnPO4were prepared at 280 °C by liquid-phase synthesis using a high-boiling-point organic solution, and their electrochemical properties were investigated by charge and discharge measurements for the first time. TEM observation clarified that the resultant LiMnPO4particles had fairly uniform particle sizes of ca. 7 nm. The discharge curves of the nanosized LiMnPO4particles showed a monotonous decrease in voltage below 4 V, which was quite different from the clear plateau observed for conventional micrometer-sized LiMnPO4powder. Thus, uniformly nanosized particles of active materials are readily available for studying the particle-size effect on the electrochemical properties of Li-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have indicated pro-tumor functions of macrophages in tumor progression in different types of malignant tumors. The detailed mechanisms of cell-cell interaction between macrophages and tumor cells have been investigated by means of in vitro co-culture experiments. The present study developed magnetite nanoparticles modified with gelatin that are specifically engulfed by macrophages and investigated methods to deplete these macrophages in co-culture experiments using a magnet. T98G glioma cell line and human monocyte-derived macrophages were mixed and co-cultured for 2 days. The T98G cells were isolated by depletion of the macrophages using the magnetite nanoparticles. mRNA expression of a number of pro-tumor molecules in the isolated T98G cells, with or without co-culture with macrophages, was then evaluated. The mRNA expression levels of chemokine (CC motif) ligand 2, interleukin-6 and macrophage-colony stimulating factor receptor (M-CSFR) were significantly upregulated in T98G cells by co-culture with macrophages (P<0.01). M-CSFR protein expression was also increased by co-culture with macrophages. The conditioned medium of co-cultured cells increased M-CSFR expression in T98G cells. Magnetite nanoparticles may be a novel tool not only for investigating the unique activation status of tumor cells in co-culture conditions, but also for targeting pro-tumor macrophages in tumor tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we prepared thermally stable SnO2 nanocrystals (ca. 4 nm) in a mixture of SnCl4, tetraethylene glycol (TEG), and tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (TBAH) under reflux and obtained a highly sensitive semiconductor gas sensor. It has been determined both theoretically and experimentally that the synthesis of oxide semiconductor nanoparticles is an important factor in highly sensitive semiconductor gas sensors. However, as-synthesized nanocrystals generally grow large during calcination at high temperature, and this thermal crystal growth reduces the sensor response. Therefore, to refine the response of the semiconductor gas sensor, we synthesized thermally stable SnO2 nanocrystals by heating under reflux a SnCl4-TBAH-TEG mixture. The obtained SnO2 nanocrystals exhibited high thermal stability even when calcined at a temperature up to 600 °C. The gas-sensing films fabricated from the thermally stable SnO2 nanocrystals exhibited a high sensor response to hydrogen due to their small crystal size, and a change in their surface property as compared with conventional SnO2 nanocrystals synthesized via hydrothermal treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real-time monitoring of specific gas concentrations with a compact and portable gas sensing device is required to sense potential health risk and danger from toxic gases. For such purposes, we developed an ultrasmall gas sensor device, where a micro sensing film was deposited on a micro heater integrated with electrodes fabricated by the microelectromechanical system (MEMS) technology. The developed device was operated in a pulse-heating mode to significantly reduce the heater power consumption and make the device battery-driven and portable. Using clustered Pd/SnO2 nanoparticles, we succeeded in introducing mesopores ranging from 10 to 30 nm in the micro gas sensing film (area: φ 150 μm) to detect large volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The micro sensor showed quick, stable, and high sensor responses to toluene at ppm (parts per million) concentrations at 300 °C even by operating the micro heater in a pulse-heating mode where switch-on and -off cycles were repeated at one-second intervals. The high performance of the micro sensor should result from the creation of efficient diffusion paths decorated with Pd sensitizers by using the clustered Pd/SnO2 nanoparticles. Hence we demonstrate that our pulse-driven micro sensor using nanostructured oxide materials holds promise as a battery-operable, portable gas sensing device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The p-type nanocrystals (NCs) of copper-based chalcogenides, such as CuInSe2 and Cu2ZnSnS4, have attracted increasing attention in photovoltaic applications due to their potential to produce cheap solution-processed solar cells. Herein, we report the synthesis of copper-antimony-sulfide (CAS) NCs with different crystal phases including CuSbS2, Cu3SbS4, and Cu12Sb4S13. In addition, their morphology, crystal phase, and optical properties were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, UV-vis-near-IR spectroscopy, and photoemission yield spectroscopy. The morphology, crystal phase, and electronic structure were significantly dependent on the chemical composition in the CAS system. Devices were fabricated using particulate films consisting of CAS NCs prepared by spin coating without a high-temperature treatment. The CAS NC-based devices exhibited a diode-like current-voltage characteristic when coupled with an n-type CdS layer. In particular, the CuSbS2NC devices exhibited photovoltaic responses under simulated sunlight, demonstrating its applicability for use in solution-processed solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The p-type nanocrystals (NCs) of copper-based chalcogenides, such as CuInSe2 and Cu2ZnSnS4, have attracted increasing attention in photovoltaic applications due to their potential to produce cheap solution-processed solar cells. Herein, we report the synthesis of copper--antimony-sulfide (CAS) NCs with different crystal phases including CuSbS2 Cu3SbS4 and Cu12Sb4S13. In addition, their morphology, crystal phase, and optical properties were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, UV-vis-near-IR spectroscopy, and photoemission yield spectroscopy. The morphology, crystal phase, and electronic structure were significantly dependent on the chemical composition in the CAS system. Devices were fabricated using particulate films consisting of CAS NCs prepared by spin coating without a high-temperature treatment. The CAS NC-based devices exhibited a diode-like current-voltage characteristic when coupled with an n-type CdS layer. In particular, the CuSbS2 NC devices exhibited photovoltaic responses under simulated sunlight, demonstrating its applicability for use in solution-processed solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]