Publications (60) View all
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Article: Carbon and graphene double protection strategy to improve the SnOx electrode performance anodes for lithium-ion batteries.
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ABSTRACT: SnOx is a promising high-capacity anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), but it usually exhibits poor cycling stability because of its huge volume variation during the lithium uptake and release process. In this paper, SnOx carbon nanofibers (SnOx@CNFs) are firstly obtained in the form of a nonwoven mat by electrospinning followed by calcination in a 0.02 Mpa environment at 500 °C. Then we use a simple mixing method for the synthesis of SnOx@CNF@graphene (SnOx@C@G) nanocomposite. By this technique, the SnOx@CNFs can be homogeneously deposited in graphene nanosheets (GNSs). The highly scattered SnOx@C@G composite exhibits enhanced electrochemical performance as anode material for LIBs. The double protection strategy to improve the electrode performance through producing SnOx@C@G composites is versatile. In addition, the double protection strategy can be extended to the fabrication of various types of composites between metal oxides and graphene nanomaterials, possessing promising applications in catalysis, sensing, supercapacitors and fuel cells.Nanoscale 05/2013; · 5.91 Impact Factor -
Article: Indium-tin-oxide thin film transistor biosensors for label-free detection of avian influenza virus H5N1.
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ABSTRACT: As continuous outbreak of avian influenza (AI) has become a threat to human health, economic development and social stability, it is urgently necessary to detect the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus quickly. In this study, we fabricated indium-tin-oxide thin-film transistors (ITO TFTs) on a glass substrate for the detecting of AI H5N1. The ITO TFT is fabricated by a one-shadow-mask process in which a channel layer can be simultaneously self-assembled between ITO source/drain electrodes during magnetron sputtering deposition. Monoclonal anti-H5N1 antibodies specific for AI H5N1 virus were covalently immobilized on the ITO channel by (3-glycidoxypropyl)trimethoxysilane. The introduction of target AI H5N1 virus affected the electronic properties of the ITO TFT, which caused a change in the resultant threshold voltage (VT) and field-effect mobility. The changes of ID-VG curves were consistent with an n-type field effect transistor behavior affected by nearby negatively charged AI H5N1 viruses. The transistor based sensor demonstrated high selectivity and stability for AI H5N1 virus sensing. The sensor showed linear response to AI H5N1 in the concentrations range from 5×10(-9)gmL(-1) to 5×10(-6)gmL(-1) with a detection limit of 0.8×10(-10)gmL(-1). Moreover, the ITO TFT biosensors can be repeatedly used through the washing processes. With its excellent electric properties and the potential for mass commercial production, ITO TFTs can be promising candidates for the development of label-free biosensors.Analytica chimica acta 04/2013; 773:83-8. · 4.31 Impact Factor -
Article: Gram-scale synthesis of ultrasmall SnO2 nanocrystals with an excellent electrochemical performance.
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ABSTRACT: The gram-scale synthesis of ultrasmall SnO2 nanocrystals has been successfully realized via a solvothermal process, during which the solvent used plays an important role in inhibiting the growth and aggregation of the nanocrystals. When investigating their electrochemical behaviour, the nanocrystal electrode shows an excellent performance in capacity retention and a better rate capacity.Nanoscale 03/2013; · 5.91 Impact Factor -
Article: Electrospinning-thermal treatment synthesis: a general strategy to decorate highly porous nanotubes on both internal and external side-walls with metal oxide/noble metal nanoparticles.
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ABSTRACT: The hybrid structure of nanoparticle-decorated highly porous nanotubes combines the advantages of large specific surface areas of nanoparticles and anisotropic properties of highly porous nanotubes, which is desirable for many applications, including batteries, photoelectrochemical water splitting, and catalysis. Here, we report a novel emulsion electrospinning-thermal treatment method to synthesize the nanoparticles deposited on both side walls of nanotubes with two unique characteristics: (1) large loading amount of nanoparticles per highly porous nanotubes (with the morphology of nanoparticles); (2) intimate contact between nanoparticles and highly porous nanotubes. Both features are advantageous for the above applications that involve both surface reactions and charge transportation processes. Moreover, the emulsion electrospinning-thermal treatment method is simple and straightforward, with which we have successfully decorated various highly porous metal oxide nanotubes with metal oxide or noble metal nanoparticles. The new method will have an impact on diverse technologies such as lithium ion batteries, catalysts, and photoelectrochemical devices.Nanoscale 02/2013; · 5.91 Impact Factor -
Article: Nanomaterials for electrochemical non-enzymatic glucose biosensors
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ABSTRACT: This review overviews the recent development of nanomaterials for the application of electrochemical non-enzymatic glucose biosensors. The electrocatalytic mechanism and glucose sensing performance of a variety of nanostructured materials including metallic nanoparticles, metal oxides, metal complexes, alloys and carbon nanomaterials are discussed. The merits and shortfalls of each nanomaterial as electrocatalyst for non-enzymatic biosensing are evaluated and the prospects of non-enzymatic glucose biosensors are presented.RSC Advances 01/2013; 3(11):3487-3502.
