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Nanosepartion and concomitant purification of nanoparticles by ultracentrifugation in a nonhydroxylic organic density gradient is shown by separating many colloidal nanoparticles, including Au, Ag and CdSe. Dissolution of organic polymers in the gradient medium has increased the separation efficiency and has allowed the direct fabrication of functional composite films with discrete monodisperse nanoparticles embedded inside.

Experimental and theoretical studies were conducted to understand the thermal polymerization of both pristine 4-vinylbenzenesulfonic anion (VBS) and intercalated VBS in the two-dimensional gallery of Ni-Al layered double hydroxide (VBS/Ni-Al-LDH). The results provide insight into the arrangement and swelling behavior of guest molecules confined between the sheets of host layers Ni-Al-LDH.

The preparation of single-crystalline Zn[Ga.sub.2][O.sub.4] spinel with intense ultraviolet emission using a single-source inorganic precursor method without the use of organic reagents is reported. The results shows existence of two kinds of Ga-O groups (tetrahedral and octahedral) which influence the structure and photoluminence of Zn[Ga.sub.2][O.sub.4] phosphors.

The intercalation of L-Aspartic acid into magnesium-aluminum layered double hydroxides by co precipitation is examined. The intercalated material is studied by X-ray diffraction, inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy, and elemental analysis.

Oxygen vacancy on the surface of metal oxides is one of the most important defects which acts as the reactive site in a variety of catalytic reactions. In this work, operando spectroscopy methodology was employed to study the CO2 methanation reaction catalyzed by Ru/CeO2 (with oxygen vacancy in CeO2) and Ru/α-Al2O3 (without oxygen vacancy), respectively, so as to give a thorough understanding on active site dependent reaction mechanism. In Ru/CeO2 catalyst, operando XANES, IR, and Raman were used to reveal the generation process of Ce(3+), surface hydroxyl, and oxygen vacancy as well as their structural evolvements under practical reaction conditions. The steady-state isotope transient kinetic analysis (SSITKA)-type in situ DRIFT infrared spectroscopy undoubtedly substantiates that CO2 methanation undergoes formate route over Ru/CeO2 catalyst, and the formate dissociation to methanol catalyzed by oxygen vacancy is the rate-determining step. In contrast, CO2 methanation undergoes CO route over Ru surface in Ru/α-Al2O3 with the absence of oxygen vacancy, demonstrating active site dependent catalytic mechanism toward CO2 methanation. In addition, the catalytic activity evaluation and the oscillating reaction over Ru/CeO2 catalyst further prove that the oxygen vacancy catalyzes the rate-determining step with a much lower activation temperature compared with Ru surface in Ru/α-Al2O3 (125 vs 250 °C).

In this paper we report the fabrication of layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanoparticles/poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAM) ultrathin films (UTFs) via the layer-by-layer assembly technique, and their switchable electrocatalytic performance in response to temperature stimuli was demonstrated. X-ray diffraction and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy indicate a periodic layered structure with uniform and regular growth of the (LDH/pNIPAM)(n) UTFs; an interaction based on hydrogen bonding between LDH nanoparticles and pNIPAM was confirmed by X-ray-photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Temperature-triggered cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy switch for the UTFs was obtained between 20 and 40 °C, accompanied by reversible changes in surface topography and film thickness revealed by atomic force microscopy and ellipsometry, respectively. The electrochemical on-off property of the temperature-controlled (LDH/pNIPAM)(n) UTFs originates from the contraction-expansion configuration of pNIPAM with low-high electrochemical impedance. In addition, a switchable electrocatalytic behavior of the (LDH/pNIPAM)(n) UTFs toward the oxidation of glucose was observed, resulting from the temperature-controlled charge transfer rate. Therefore, this work provides a facile approach for the design and fabrication of a well-ordered command interface with a temperature-sensitive property, which can be potentially applied in electrochemical sensors and switching.

A uniform three-dimensional (3D) gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-embedded porous graphene (AuEPG) thin film has been fabricated by electrostatic layer-by-layer assembly of AuNPs and graphene nanosheets functionalized with bovine serum albumin and subsequent thermal annealing in air at 340 °C for 2 h. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigations for the AuEPG film indicate that an AuNP was embedded in every pore of the porous graphene film, something that was difficult to achieve with previously reported methods. The mechanism of formation of the AuEPG film was initially explored. Application of the AuEPG film in electrochemical sensing was further demonstrated by use of H(2)O(2) as a model analyte. The AuEPG film-modified electrode showed improved electrochemical performance in H(2)O(2) detection compared with nonporous graphene-AuNP composite film-modified electrodes, which is mainly attributed to the porous structure of the AuEPG film. This work opens up a new and facile way for direct preparation of metal or metal oxide nanoparticle-embedded porous graphene composite films, which will enable exciting opportunities in highly sensitive electrochemical sensors and other advanced applications based on graphene-metal composites.

A fluorescent logic gate was fabricated based on calcein/layered double hydroxide ultrathin films (UTFs) via alternate assembly technique, which exhibits high stability, reversibility, and resettability. The logic gate was manipulated by utilizing pH value, Hg(2+) and Cl(-) ion as inputs, and the fluorescence emission of the (calcein/LDH)(16) UTF as output, serving as a three-input logic gate that combines the YES and INHIBIT operation.

Three-component microspheres containing an SiO(2)-coated Fe(3)O(4) magnetite core and a layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanoplatelet shell have been synthesized via an in situ growth method. The resulting Fe(3)O(4)@SiO(2)@NiAl-LDH microspheres display three-dimensional core-shell architecture with flowerlike morphology, large surface area (83 m(2)/g), and uniform mesochannels (4.3 nm). The Ni(2+) cations in the NiAl-LDH shell provide docking sites for histidine and the materials exhibit excellent performance in the separation of a histidine (His)-tagged green fluorescent protein, with a binding capacity as high as 239 μg/mg. The microspheres show highly selective adsorption of the His-tagged protein from Escherichia coli lysate, demonstrating their practical applicability. Moreover, the microspheres possess superparamagnetism and high saturation magnetization (36.8 emu/g), which allows them to be easily separated from solution by means of an external magnetic field and subsequently reused. The high stability and selectivity of the Fe(3)O(4)@SiO(2)@NiAl-LDH microspheres for the His-tagged protein were retained over several separation cycles. Therefore, this work provides a promising approach for the design and synthesis of multifunctional LDH microspheres, which can be used for the practical purification of recombinant proteins, as well as having other potential applications in a variety of biomedical fields including drug delivery and biosensors., (© 2011 American Chemical Society)

This article reports a novel method to assemble a small anion with exfoliated Mg-Al-layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheets into ordered ultrathin films (UTFs) by employing the layer-by-layer assembly technique. The premixing solution of tris(8-hydroxyquinolate-5-sulfonate)aluminum(III) (AQS(3-)) with three kinds of polyanions-poly(acrylic acid), ((C(3)H(4)O(2))(n), PAA), poly(styrene 4-sulfonate) ([CH(2)CH(C(6)H(4))SO(3)](m), PSS), and poly[5-methoxy-2-(3-sulfopropoxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene] (C(12)H(13)O(5)S)(n), PPV)-has been used as building blocks to assemble alternatively with LDH nanosheets. The UV-vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy of (AQS-polyanion/LDH)(n) UTFs presents stepwise growth upon increasing deposited cycles in comparison with the (AQS/LDH)(n) film under the same experimental process. (AQS-PPV/LDH)(n) UTF displays complex fluorescence originating from AQS and PPV. The (AQS/LDH)(n) and (AQS-polyanion/LDH)(n) UTFs exhibit higher blue-polarized photoemission character with a luminescence anisotropy (r) of ca. 0.12-0.20 and a longer fluorescence lifetime than that of the Na(3)AQS film with r = 0.04. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy demonstrated that the UTFs were orderly periodically layered structures with a thickness of ca. 3.0 nm per bilayer. Therefore, this work gives a feasible method for immobilizing small anions into the gallery of LDHs., (© 2011 American Chemical Society)

The ordered ultrathin films (UTFs) based on CoFe-LDH (layered double hydroxide) nanoplatelets and manganese porphyrin (Mn-TPPS) have been fabricated on ITO substrates via a magnetic-field-assisted (MFA) layer-by-layer (LBL) method and were demonstrated as an electrochemical sensor for glucose. The XRD pattern for the film indicates a long-range stacking order in the normal direction of the substrate. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) images of the MFA LDH/Mn-TPPS UTFs reveal a continuous and uniform surface morphology. Cyclic voltammetry, impedance spectroscopy, and chronoamperometry were used to evaluate the electrochemical performance of the film, and the results show that the MFA-0.5 (0.5 T magnetic field) CoFe-LDH/Mn-TPPS-modified electrode displays the strongest redox current peaks and fastest electron transfer process compared with those of MFA-0 (without magnetic-field) and MFA-0.15 (0.15 T magnetic field). Furthermore, the MFA-0.5 CoFe-LDH/Mn-TPPS exhibits remarkable electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of glucose with a linear response range (0.1-15 mM; R(2) = 0.999), low detection limit (0.79 μM) and high sensitivity (66.3 μA mM(-1) cm(-2)). In addition, the glucose sensor prepared by the MFA LBL method also shows good selectivity and reproducibility as well as resistance to poisoning in a chloride ion solution. Therefore, the novel strategy in this work creates new opportunities for the fabrication of nonenzyme sensors with prospective applications in practical detection., (© 2011 American Chemical Society)

This article reports a novel method to tune the photoluminance properties of ammonium 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonate (ANS) in a 2D matrix of layered double hydroxide (LDH) by changing the interlayer microenvironment. ANS and a series of surfactants with different alkyl chain lengths (pentanesulphonate (PES), hexanesulphonate (HES), heptanesulphonate (HPS), decanesulphonate (DES), and dodecylsulphonate (DDS)) were respectively cointercalated into the galleries of ZnAl-LDH by the anion exchange method. Thin films of ANS/surfactant-LDHs obtained by the solvent evaporation method possess good c orientation as revealed by XRD and SEM. It was found that the ANS/HPS-LDH film showed the maximum fluorescence efficiency and the longest intensity-average lifetime among these ANS/surfactant-LDH composites owing to the "size-matching" rule between the organic dye and surfactant. Moreover, the fluorescence properties can be tuned by changing the relative molar ratio of ANS/HPS, and the film containing 20% ANS (molar percentage, expressed as ANS(20%)/HPS-LDH) exhibits the maximum fluorescence efficiency, the longest average lifetime, and significantly enhanced photo and thermal stability. In addition, the composite films show fluorescence anisotropy, attributed to the preferential orientation of ANS in the LDH gallery. Therefore, this work demonstrates a feasible approach to tuning the photoluminescence properties of a dye confined in an inorganic 2D matrix via changing the interlayer microenvironment, which may be considered to be a good candidate for solid photoluminescence materials, nonlinear optics, and polarized luminescence materials.

Identifying the phase purity of CdS nanorods (NRs) is complicated by the serious overlap between the X-ray diffraction peaks of zinc blende and wurtzite phases as well as anisotropic growth, which might hide a mixed phase. Here we show that the density gradient ultracentrifugation rate separation method can be used to sort CdS NRs synthesized under nitrogen according to differences in particle size and morphology. Furthermore, it was found that the different sized NRs formed in a single batch synthesis had different phases: the thinner ones (<3.5 nm in diameter) were predominantly wurtzite phase, while the thicker ones (>5 nm in diameter) were mainly zinc blende phase. Dark-field transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-resolution TEM images indicated the presence of numerous stacking faults in the thick zinc blende rods, while the wurtzite thin rods were exclusively single crystals. As a result of the differences in phase and stacking faults, the NRs showed different photoluminescent properties. The development of an effective way of separating such NRs thus leads to further insight into the differences in phase, structure, and optical properties between individual colloidal particles synthesized in a single batch. A preliminary mathematical model of the separation process has been proposed.

Periodic solid models have been employed to investigate the structural and energetic properties of cation-disordered Mg-Al layered double hydroxides (LDHs), including composition, ordering, and stacking pattern of layers. The geometry, lattice energy and density of states (DOS) of the periodic models were computed using the plane-wave pseudopotential implementation of density functional theory (DFT) with the virtual crystal approximation (VCA). The calculation results for the MgAl-Cl-LDH model show that a pure LDH phase is difficult to sustain when the Mg/Al ratio (R) is R > or = 4. The stability of the cation-disordered MgAl-Cl-LDH unit cell increases upon increasing R, owing to the decrease in the number of Al(III)-O-Al(III) linkages in the LDH sheets. The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of MgAl-Cl-LDH receive contributions from the 3s and 3p orbitals of Mg and Al and the 2p orbitals of O and Cl, respectively, implying significant host-guest interactions. The increase of R leads to the decrease in electron density of 3s and 3p of metal cation and that of 2p in Cl. Consequently, the HOMO-LUMO energy gap as well as the systematical stability increase upon increasing R. From this point of view, it has been demonstrated that the cations distribute in an ordered arrangement with the absence of Al(III)-O-Al(III) linkages if R is in the low range (R = 2-3). It was also found that the 3R polytype is the most stable stacking pattern with the same Mg/Al ratio, owing to the fact that the conductive band energy levels decline with the increase of electron density of 3s and 3p of the metal cation in the 3R-stacking system. These findings agree well with the experimental results and provide a profound understanding of critical factors influencing the structure of LDHs, including metal composition and ordering, the stacking sequence, as well as the host-guest interactions.

A simple density gradient ultracentrifuge separation method has been developed for sorting chemically modified graphene (CMG) by sheet size and surface chemistry in just a few minutes. By optimizing the parameters, including the density gradient and centrifugation time, CMG sheets with specific size ranges and optical properties can be targeted selectively. UV-vis absorbance and photoluminescence spectra revealed the properties of separated CMG samples are highly dependent on their sheet size and degree of oxidation. A possible mechanism for the separation is discussed.

The sulfonated phenylenevinylene polyanion derivate (APPV) and exfoliated Mg-Al-layered double hydroxide (LDH) monolayers were alternatively assembled into ordered ultrathin films (UTFs) employing a layer-by-layer method, which shows uniform yellow luminescence. UV-vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy present a stepwise and regular growth of the UTFs upon increasing deposited cycles. X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy demonstrate that the UTFs are orderly periodical layered structure with a thickness of 3.3-3.5 nm per bilayer. The APPV/LDH UTFs exhibit well-defined polarized photoemission characteristic with the maximum luminescence anisotropy of approximately 0.3. Moreover, the UTF exhibit longer fluorescence lifetime (3-3.85-fold) and higher photostability than the drop-casting APPV film under UV irradiation, suggesting that the existence of a LDH monolayer enhances the optical performance of the APPV polyanion. A combination study of electrochemistry and periodic density functional theory was used to investigate the electronic structure of the APPV/LDH system, illustrating that the APPV/LDH UTF is a kind of organic-inorganic hybrid multiple quantum well (MQW) structure with a low band energy of 1.7-1.8 eV, where the valence electrons of APPV can be confined into the energy wells formed by the LDH monolayers effectively. Therefore, this work not only gives a feasible method for fabricating a luminescence ultrathin film but also provides a detailed understanding of the geometric and electronic structures of photoactive polyanions confined between the LDH monolayers.

We report the preparation of a reversible photoresponsive ultrathin film containing a photoactive azobenzene polymer poly{1-4[4-(3-carboxy-4-hydroxyphenylazo)benzenesulfonamido]-1,2-ethanediyl sodium salt} (PAZO) and exfoliated layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheets using a layer-by-layer (LBL) self-assembly technique. Alternate irradiation with UV and visible light (lambda > 450 nm) results in a reversible switching between the trans isomer and the cis-rich photostationary state of the azobenzene group with concomitant significant changes in film color. Fluorescence polarization measurements indicated that the orientation of the azobenzene chromophores in the LDH matrix undergoes a reversible realignment during the photoisomerization processes. Photoisomerization induced by alternate UV and visible light irradiation was accompanied by reversible morphological changes of the LBL film, observable by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Molecular dynamics (MD) studies demonstrated that the LDH monolayers allow sufficient free space for the PAZO to undergo isomerization of its azobenzene chromophores. The reversible photoalignment of PAZO was also followed by MD simulations, and the results are in reasonable agreement with the experimental findings, further validating the configurational and orientational changes proposed for PAZO during the reversible photoprocess. It has been demonstrated that the host (LDH nanosheet)-guest (PAZO) interactions are key factors in determining the reversible photoresponsive performances of the film, since the comparative pristine PAZO film shows no such properties. Therefore, the incorporation of a photoactive moiety within the inorganic nanosheets of LDH by the LBL technique provides an attractive and feasible methodology for creating novel light-sensitive materials and devices with potential read-write capabilities.

Nanoseparation and concomitant purification of nanoparticles by ultracentrifugation in a nonhydroxylic organic density gradient has been demonstrated by separating several typical colloidal nanoparticles, including Au, Ag, and CdSe. Successful separation of Au nanowires from their spherical counterparts showed that colloidal particles can be separated not only by size but also morphology. In addition to extending the range of colloidal systems which can be separated and providing monodisperse samples that cannot be obtained by synthesis optimization alone, this method simplifies the postsynthesis treatment process and facilitates subsequent bulk assembly of the monodisperse colloids. Dissolution of organic polymers in the gradient medium both enhances the separation efficiency and also allows the direct fabrication of functional composite films with discrete monodisperse nanoparticles embedded inside.

Optically transparent thin films with thermochromic properties have been fabricated by means of cointercalation of different molar ratios of 4-(4-anilinophenylazo)benzenesulfonate (AO5) and sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDS) into the galleries of a ZnAl layered double hydroxide (LDH). The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of these thin films show that they are assembled in a highly c-oriented manner, and the basal spacing ranges from 2.95 to 2.63 nm with varying AO5/SDS molar ratio. The preferential orientation of AO5 in the galleries of 10% AO5-LDH (AO5/SDS = 10:90, molar percentage) was evaluated by the fluorescence polarization technique; the results show that AO5 anions are accommodated between sheets of ZnAl-LDH as monomeric units with a tilt angle Psi (defined as the angle between the transition dipole moment of the AO5 anion with respect to the normal to the LDH layer) of 74 degrees. It was found that the composite film exhibits marked thermochromic behavior (light yellow <==> reddish-orange) in the temperature range of 35-65 degrees C, which is reversible over a number of heating-cooling cycles. It has been demonstrated that the thermochromic behavior results from tautomerism of interlayer AO5 and furthermore that both the host-guest and guest-guest interactions are key factors, since pristine AO5 shows no thermochromic performance. The 10% AO5-LDH film shows the highest thermochromic efficiency of all the films examined. Furthermore, a reversible contraction and expansion of the LDH basal spacing was also observed for this thin film over the same temperature range.

A zinc-aluminum layered double hydroxide (ZnAl-LDH)/alumina bilayer film has been fabricated on an aluminum substrate by a one-step hydrothermal crystallization method. The LDH film was uniform and compact. XRD patterns and SEM images showed that the LDH film was highly oriented with the c-axis of the crystallites parallel to the substrate surface. The alumina layer existing between the LDH film and the substrate was formed prior to the LDH during the crystallization process. Polarization measurements showed that the bilayer film exhibited a low corrosion current density value of 10(-8) A/cm(2), which means that the LDH/alumina bilayer film can effectively protect aluminum from corrosion. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) showed that the impedance of the bilayer was 16 MOmega, meaning that the film served as a passive layer with a high charge transfer resistance. The adhesion between the film and the substrate was very strong which enhances its potential for practical application.

The [M2Al(OH2)9(OH)4]3+ clusters (M = divalent cation Mg2+, Ca2+, Mn2+, Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, or Cd2+), which include the basic information of layered double hydroxides (LDHs) lattice structure with the most economical size, have been investigated by density functional theory (DFT) to shed light on the structural properties and relative stability of M(II)-Al binary LDHs layers with a M2+/Al3+ ratio of 2. The geometric parameters (bond distance and bond angle), natural bond orbitals (NBO), stretching vibration frequencies of three-centered bridging OH groups (nu(O3-H)), as well as binding energy of the cluster model were systematically studied. It was found that the geometries and the nu(O3-H) frequency for the calculated clusters are remarkably influenced by the electronic structure of the divalent cations, such as valence electronic configuration, natural bond orbitals, natural charge transfer, and bond order. The calculated binding energies are in good agreement with the relative stability of the experimental results for the corresponding LDHs. The calculation results reveal that the 2Ni-Al cluster shows the highest stability among the open-shelled cation-containing clusters, while the stability of the 2Cu-Al cluster is the weakest; the 2Mg-Al and 2Zn-Al clusters are the most stable ones among the closed-shelled cation-containing clusters. These findings are in high accordance with the experimental results. Therefore, this work provides a detailed understanding of how the electronic structure of cations plays a more significant role in the structural properties and relative stability of the corresponding LDHs layers rather than ionic size.

Sulforhodamine B (SRB) and dodecylbenzenesulfonate (DBS) with different molar ratios cointercalated into the interlayer region of Mg-Al-layered double hydroxide (SRB-DBS/LDH) were prepared. The structure and chemical composition of the composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, thermogravimetry, and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA). Fluorescence spectra demonstrate that the sample with 4.76% SRB molar percentage, with respect to the total organic material, exhibits the optimal luminous intensity. The fluorescence lifetime of SRB in SRB-DBS/LDH is enhanced significantly compared with that of pristine SRB in solution (4.14 vs 2.05 ns). SRB-DBS/LDH thin films on the quartz substrates were constructed by the solvent evaporation method. Steady-state polarization photoemission spectra show that the luminescence anisotropy of SRB-DBS/LDH thin films (r=0.10) was enhanced remarkably compared with that of a powder sample (r=0+/-0.01) at ambient temperature, whereas the anisotropy of both film and powder samples was largely improved at low temperature (77 K). Furthermore, the SRB-DBS/LDH thin films exhibit a luminescence anisotropy decay effect in the range of their fluorescence lifetime. These results demonstrate that the SRB-DBS/LDH thin films could be used as a good candidate for the immobilization of laser dyes and polarized luminescence materials.

This paper describes a systematic study on the thermal polymerization of both pristine 4-vinylbenzenesulfonic anion (VBS) and intercalated VBS in the two-dimensional (2D) gallery of Ni-Al layered double hydroxide (VBS/Ni-Al-LDH), by virtue of combining experimental and theoretical investigations. In situ FT-IR, in situ high-temperature X-ray diffraction (HT-XRD), UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, TG-DTA and elemental analysis were used to study the polymerization process, and it was found that the polymerization of VBS/Ni-Al-LDH occurs at ca. 150-170 degrees C, at least 40 degrees C lower than that of the pristine VBS, indicating that the layered structure of LDH is favorable for thermal polymerization of VBS. Therefore, this layered inorganic material may have potential application as a "molecular reactor" for enhancing the efficiency of polymerization reaction. Furthermore, the sheet-like polymerization product was obtained with the LDHs lamella as template. For better understanding the structure and arrangement of intercalated VBS and the polymerization product between the layers of Ni-Al-LDH, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation method was employed. The simulation results of hydration energies show that there are two relatively stable stages upon the increase of the number of interlayer water molecules. VBS molecules exhibit a tendency from tilted to vertical orientation with respect to the layers as the interlayer water content increases. Compared with the experimental results, the calculated interlayer spacing is more severely affected by interlayer water content. Finally, a typical tetramer product of VBS intercalated LDH was studied and the simulated equilibrium interlayer spacing is consistent with the experimental result of in situ HT-XRD. Based on the combination of experimental and theoretical studies on the interlayer polymerization system, the aim of this work is to deeply investigate the differences in thermal polymerization process between pristine monomers and intercalated ones in the gallery of LDHs, and to give detailed information of the arrangement and swelling behavior of guest molecules confined between the sheets of host layers.

The synthesis of single-crystalline ZnGa 2O 4 spinel phosphor with intense ultraviolet-emitting properties through a novel single-source inorganic precursor route is reported. This synthetic approach involves the calcination of a Zn-Ga layered double hydroxide precursor followed by selective leaching of the self-generated zinc oxide. Material characterization has been presented by chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis, thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance, nuclear magnetic resonance, extended X-ray absorption fine structure analysis, UV-vis, and photoluminescence measurements. The results indicate that a single-crystalline ZnGa 2O 4 spinel with an average particle size of around 150 nm has been obtained at a lower calcination temperature and shorter calcination time compared with that with the high-temperature solid-state reaction method, based on the fact that the large amount of highly dispersed ZnO particles generated during the high-temperature calcination of the single-source inorganic precursor has a remarkable segregation and inhibition effect on the growth of ZnGa 2O 4 spinel. Furthermore, it has been confirmed that that Ga (3+) ions locate not only on the octahedral sites but also on the tetrahedral sites in the matrix of the ZnGa 2O 4 spinel structure, and the Ga-O coordination environment has a great influence on the photoluminescence of ZnGa 2O 4 phosphors.