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A facile and original approach based on a one-pot non-aqueous sol–gel solvothermal process was developed to synthesize 2D Tungsten trioxide (WO3) nanoplatelets with an average size ranging from 30 to 50 nm, and a correspondingly high surface area. The structural, morphological, functional group, optical properties of the materials, and the properties of the adsorption surfaces were all investigated; the degree of surface hydroxyls (–OH groups) has been examined. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy techniques indicated the formation of di-hexyl ether as a result of the solvothermal reaction. The optical absorption, measured using UV–Vis Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy, revealed a narrow bandgap (Eg = 2.18 and 2.48 eV for WO3-24 and WO3-48, respectively) compared to that of for bulk WO3 (2.7 eV), attributable to oxygen vacancies. The as-prepared WO3 nanoplatelets displayed excellent photocatalytic performance for degrading Rhodamine B under visible light-emitting diode light with up 99% degradation rate that was achieved in 120 min. Thus, the enhanced Rhodamine B photodegradation in the presence of WO3-24 along with H2O2 was assigned to the reactive oxygen species such as ·OH and RhB*+, involving in the strong synergistic effect between WO3 and H2O2, effectively separating of photocarriers and, as a consequence, boosting the photocatalytic efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on the high sensitivity of sub-spherical In 2 O 3 -Pt nanoparticles (NPs) for detecting ppb levels of acetone, a biomarker for diabetes. The In 2 O 3 -Pt NPs, in the form of monodisperse metal-oxide In 2 O 3 NPs with diameters of 6–8 nm, decorated with 2 wt% Pt metal NPs (2–3 nm) on the surface, were synthesized by a novel non-aqueous sol–gel route. NPs samples were investigated by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), using the advanced whole powder pattern modeling (WPPM) method, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The advantage of this preparative process is that it preserves metallic platinum NPs formed during the synthesis. The highly sensitive acetone sensor based on these NPs, showed a lower detection limit as low as 10 ppb or less, which is the lowest detection limit ever reported for any chemoresistive acetone sensors. This exceptional performance is likely due to the key role played by very small Pt metal NPs uniformly distributed in the In 2 O 3 -Pt nanostructure. The developed sensor would be suitable for use as a highly sensitive, practical breath acetone checker for daily diet and diabetes management and diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A general non-aqueous route was applied to the preparation of erbium oxide based ordered nanocrystalline hybrid structures. In a simple one-pot reaction process, Er3+ isopropoxide was dissolved in benzyl alcohol and reacted in an autoclave at 300 °C. This approach leads to crystalline sub-nanometer thick Er2O3 oxide layers (crystallized in the monoclinic structure) regularly separated from each other by organic layers of intercalated benzoate molecules. They display good thermal stability for temperature up to 450 °C and outstanding optical emission properties in the near infrared region interesting for optical fiber technology. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Monodisperse, ultra-small, perovskite-type SrHfO3 nanocrystals are synthesized from solutions of metallic strontium and hafnium isopropoxide in anhydrous benzyl alcohol (autoclave, 220 °C, 48 h). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]