Sharif Digital Repository

Friction stir processing (FSP) is a solid state route with a capacity of preparing fine grained nanocomposites from metal sheets. In this work, we employed this process to finely distribute TiO2 nanoparticles throughout an Al–Mg alloy, aiming to enhance mechanical properties. Titanium dioxide particles (30 nm) were preplaced into grooves machined in the middle of the aluminium alloy sheet and multipass FSP was afforded. This process refined the grain structure of the aluminium alloy, distributed the hard nanoparticles in the matrix and promoted solid state chemical reactions at the interfaces of the metal/ceramic particles. Detailed optical and electron microscopic studies showed that the... 

Surface modification of orthopedic implants using titanium dioxide nanotubes and silver nanoparticles (SNs) is a promising approach to prevent bacteria adhesion, biofilm formation, and implant infection. Herein, we utilized a straightforward and all-solution process to prepare silver-decorated TiO2 nanotube arrays with surface density of 10(3) to 10(4) per µm(2). With controlling the synthesis conditions, hexagonal closed-packed nanotubes with opening diameter of 30-100 nm that are decorated with SNs with varying sizes (12-40 nm) were prepared. Various analytical techniques were utilized to characterize the size, morphology, distribution, valance state, surface roughness, and composition of... 

Zeolite-based photocatalysts were prepared by the sol-gel and deposition methods. The photocatalysts were characterised by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms, FTIR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry. The activity of the prepared photocatalysts was evaluated by the UV-induced degradation of acid blue 92, a textile dye in common use. The effect of various parameters, such as catalyst concentration, initial dye concentration, thiosulphate concentration and pH, on the rate and efficiency of the photocatalytic degradation of acid blue 92 was investigated. The results showed that each parameter influenced the degradation... 

Reduced graphene oxide (RGO) was used to improve the hydrogen sensing properties of Pd and Pt-decorated TiO2 nanoparticles by facile production routes. The TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized by sol–gel method and coupled on GO sheets via a photoreduction process. The Pd or Pt nanoparticles were decorated on the TiO2/RGO hybrid structures by chemical reduction. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy demonstrated that GO reduction is done by the TiO2 nanoparticles and Ti–C bonds are formed between the TiO2 and the RGO sheets as well. Gas sensing was studied with different concentrations of hydrogen ranging from 100 to 10,000 ppm at various temperatures. High sensitivity (92%) and fast response time... 

Mordenite (MOR) nanocrystals were synthesized using the hydrothermal method. Sol–gel and deposition methods were utilized to modify the zeolite surface with TiO2 and then AgBr or AgCl particles. Photocatalysts were characterized by using X-ray diffraction, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), and scanning electron microscopy techniques. Activity was evaluated by photodegradation of Acid Blue 92 as an azo dye. The effect of silver halide deposition on the photocatalytic behavior of the prepared nanocomposites was studied under both ultraviolet (UV) and visible light, and the results were compared. The results showed that AgCl/TiO2/MOR was more active under UV, while with visible source,... 

TiO2 and transition metal (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn) doped TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized by the sol–gel method using 2-hydroxylethylammonium formate as an ionic liquid. All the prepared samples were calcined at 500 °C and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), BET surface area determination, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and Fourier transformed infrared (FT-IR) techniques. The studies revealed that transition metal (TM) doped nanoparticles have smaller crystalline size and higher surface area than pure TiO2. Dopant ions in the TiO2 structure caused significant absorption shift into the visible region. The results of... 

TiO2 nanoparticles were prepared by the sol - gel process using 2-hydroxylethy- lammonium formate as an ionic liquid. Nanoparticles were crystallized at various temperatures (300-700°C). The products were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption - desorption isotherms and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. It was found that the resulting TiO2 nanoparticles had good thermal stability either to resist collapse or the anatase-to-rutile phase transformation during heat treatment. The photocatalytic activity of the nanocrystalline TiO2 was evaluated by the degradation of Acid Blue 92 (AB92) which is\ commonly used as a textile dye. The results showed that the... 

Copper oxide-titania catalysts with nanocrystalline mesoporous structure were prepared by sol-gel technique using tetra isopropyl ortho titanate (TiPT) as the inorganic precursor and amino-2 ethanol as the swelling agent. Characterization was performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transformed infrared spectra (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), diffuse reflectance UV-Vis spectroscopy (DRS), and N2 adsorption-desorption measurements. It was found that CuO (0.025-0.1 mol ratio) has some effect on the particle size, surface area, pore-volume, pore-diameter, crystallinity of the particles, and crystalline phase of TiO2 nanocrystalline. The results indicated that 0.1 CuO-TiO2... 

TiO2–graphene (TiO2–GR) nanocomposites were synthesized using photocatalytic reduction method. TiO2–GR nanocomposites were thereafter doped with noble metals (Pt and Pd) by chemical reduction of the corresponding cations. The samples were characterized by different techniques. The addition of GR to TiO2 decreases the crystalline size of TiO2 due to the homogeneous dispersion of the TiO2 nanoparticles on GR sheets and prevention of coagulation of TiO2 nanoparticles during synthesis process. In addition, the surface area of TiO2 was increased by addition of GR and deposition of noble metals which helps to prevent agglomeration of graphene sheets and TiO2 nanoparticles. Red shifts to the higher... 

To enhance hydrophilicity and photocatalytic activity, N-doped and N–V-codoped TiO2films were coated on glass substrates by the sol–gel dip-coating method. The substrates were previously coated with SiO2using the same method. The coated samples, after annealing at 450 °C for 30 min in air, were analyzed by an X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscope, and UV–visible spectroscope. The SiO2/N–V-codoped TiO2photocatalyst showed a narrower band gap (2.93 eV) compared to the SiO2/N-doped. Degradation tests, methyl orange under UV light and stearic acid under visible light, were performed in order to evaluate... 

In the present work, the synergetic effect of Ti-based catalysts (TiH2 and TiO2 particles) on hydrogen desorption kinetics of nanostructured magnesium hydride was investigated. Nanostructured 84mol% MgH2-10%mol TiH2-6%mol TiO2 nanocomposite powder was prepared by high-energy ball milling and subjected to thermal analyses. Evaluation of the absorption/desorption properties revealed that the addition of the Ti-based catalysts significantly improved the hydrogen storage performance of MgH2. A decrease in the decomposition temperature (as high as 100°C) was attained after co-milling of MgH2 with the Ti-based catalysts. Meanwhile, solid-state chemical reactions between MgH2 and TiO2 nanoparticles... 

TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by hydrothermal assisted sol-gel technique. In the next step, as-synthesized NPs were modified by poly ethylene glycol (PEG). Then, folic acid (FA) was conjugated to TiO 2-PEG. Finally, Doxorubicin (Dox) as an anticancer drug was loaded on as-prepared TiO2-PEG-FA nanocarrier. The optimization of TiO 2 and FA concentration and the influence of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation on photocatalytic activity of nanocarrier and Dox loaded carrier were assessed by utilizing the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT)-assay method. Results indicated that the effect of NPs on cancer cells killing is dose-dependent, optimized at 1.25 g/L.... 

A new strategy for enhancing the efficiency of TiO2 dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) by design of a new double-layer film doped with Zn ions, with various morphologies and phase compositions, is reported. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed that Zn2+ (in the range 0.25-0.1 at.%) was successfully incorporated into the TiO2 lattice without forming secondary phases. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) analyses showed that the synthesized nanoparticles had nanometer grains with different phase compositions and average crystallite sizes in the range of 8-48 nm, depending upon Zn atomic percentage. UV-vis absorption verified that Zn... 

TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized by hydrothermal assisted sol-gel technique. The preparation parameters including pH value, the amount of water, titanium tetra isopropoxide content, temperature and time of hydrothermal process were investigated by Taguchi statistical experiments to determine the influence of synthesizing variables on the optimal conditions and to realize the highest degree of crystallinity or smallest crystallite size. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and direct band gap energy (Eg) values, measured via diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS), proved that all the samples consist of anatase as a unique phase. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and specific surface area... 

Bacteriorhodopsin is a heptahelical protein found in the purple membrane of Halobacterium salinarum. The performance of bacteriorhodopsin was evaluated as a sensitizer in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Bacteriorhodopsin was efficiently immobilized on the titanium dioxide nanoparticles and then tested for its ability to convert solar radiation to electricity. The photovoltaic performance of DSSC based on the bacteriorhodopsin sensitizer has been examined. Under AM1.5 irradiation, a short-circuit current of 0.28 mA cm−2, open-circuit voltages of 0.51 V, fill factor of 0.62, and an overall energy conversion efficiency of 0.09 % are achieved employing platinum as a counter electrode. Carbon... 

While the photocatalytic degradation of various organic compounds under UV light irradiation has been widely investigated, visible-light-induced photocatalytic degradation of low levels of pollutants such as dibenzothiophene (DBT) is occasionally reported. In the present work, lanthanide/polyethylene glycol-modified TiO2 (La/PEG/TiO2) has been successfully synthesized by a sol-gel method. The photocatalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, UV-Vis diffusive reflectance spectroscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. Moreover, the photocatalytic degradation of DBT under visible light irradiation is investigated for the... 

Sulfur doped and pure micro-nanoporous TiO2 film were synthesized with PEO method to produce a film with a high surface area for photocatalysis applications. The effect of applied voltage and electrolyte concentration on the microstructure and photocatalytic properties of the prepared layer were investigated via SEM, XRD, EIS and DRS studies. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) was carried out in order to determine the corrosion and electrochemical properties of the produced layer. It was found that although the barrier layer resistance decreases with the voltage, the layers porosity and consequently the surface area increases. Finally the XRD and DRS spectrums were correlated with... 

The diffusion and deposition of TiO2 nanoparticles in EOR application was investigated in this paper. TEM image of nanoparticles showed that the particles are elongated with average long and short axis sizes of 54 and 15 nm. Water flooding tests showed that the recovery factor can be improved from 49% to 80% using TiO2 nanoparticles. Viscosity and interfacial tension measurements showed that by using TiO2 nanoparticles the viscosity of injected fluid and interfacial tension do not change significantly and can not explain the change in recovery factor. Contact angle measurements showed that nanoparticles deposition changed the wettability of the rock surface from oil-wet to water-wet. SEM... 

CdS/TiO2/graphene (CTG) nanocomposite thin films were synthesized by a facile production route. The TiO2/graphene (TG) nanocomposite was initially fabricated by sol-gel method in such a way that TiO2 nanoparticles loaded on graphene oxide (GO) sheet via photocatalytic process. Then, CdS nanoparticles were deposited on the TG thin film by successive ion layer adsorption and reaction process (SILAR) approach. Based on atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses, the TG thin film possessed a larger surface area as compared with the pure TiO2 thin film due to presence of graphene sheet. UV/visible spectroscopy exhibited... 

Zinc-TiO2 nano-composite coatings were synthesized by Direct Current (DC) and Pulse Current (PC) electrodeposition techniques. The effects of the plating parameters on the microstructure, codeposition percentage of TiO2 and corrosion behavior were investigated. The coatings morphology presents hexagonal grains perpendicularly oriented to the surface. Under DC conditions, TiO2 content of the coatings decreased with increasing TiO2 concentration of the electrolyte. Increasing applied current and TiO2 concentration in the bath leads to a fine microstructure with corrosion currents as low as 2.7 μA/cm2. Under PC conditions, incorporation rate of nanoparticles tends to increase with increasing...