Colloidal synthesis of ultrathin gamma-Fe2O3 nanoplates

A facile method of synthesizing gamma-Fe2O3 ultrathin nanoplates has been developed. These nanoplates are single crystalline and superparamagnetic at room temperature, with a thickness of only 1.4 nm. FTIR analysis has shown that the coordination mode between Fe and carboxyl group is dominated by bidentate configuration in the as prepared iron oleate complex, which is the key for producing the nanoplate morphology. By changing the reaction temperatures, the lateral size and thickness of nanoplates can be varied

Porous cubes constructed by cobalt oxide nanocrystals with graphene sheet coatings for enhanced lithium storage properties

In this manuscript, graphene-encapsulated porous cobalt oxide cubes (Co3O4@ G) are fabricated through a facile precipitation reaction with subsequent calcination and a self-assembly process. The synthesized porous Co3O4 cubes anchored in the conductive graphene network can realize superior electrical conductivity, withstand volume variation upon prolonged cycling and shorten the diffusion path of lithium ions. When evaluated as anode materials, the Co3O4@ G electrode shows excellent electrochemical properties in terms of both stable cycling performance and good rate capabilities. For example, a reversible discharge capacity of 980 mA h g(-1) is delivered after 80 cycles at a current density of 200 mA g(-1). Introducing a conductive graphene network to modify other metal oxides with poor electric conductivity and large volume excursions is of great interest in the development of lithium ion battery technologies

Synthesis of Au-Fe3O4 heterostructured nanoparticles for in vivo computed tomography and magnetic resonance dual model imaging

Water-soluble Au-Fe3O4 heterostructured nanoparticles with high biocompatibility were synthesized and applied as a dual modality contrast agent. These nanoparticles present strong CT/MRI contrast enhancement in a rabbit model. Low concentrations of Au-Fe3O4 were found to obtain a similar effect to high concentrations of a commercial iodine agent in the CT image

Why Hydrological Maze: TheHydropedological Trigger?Review of Experiments at ChuzhouHydrology Laboratory

Hydrology is an old discipline due to its early origination, as well as a young discipline due to its insufficient scientific foundation as a natural science. Thus hydrology has long been haunted by a debate between natural functionalities found in observations vs. model results built on many simplified assumptions. We define the hydrological maze as puzzles, paradoxes, or complexity involved in hydrologic measurements and interpretations. The objective of this study was to reveal the hydrological maze through a comprehensive review of decades of work since the 1980s on observations and experiments using a combination of natural and artificial catchments at the Chuzhou Hydrology Laboratory in China, highlighting the role of hydropedology in hillslope and catchment hydrology based on long-term monitoring of surface and subsurface flows at various soil depths and at different spatial scales. A conception has emerged that indicates the fundamental control of hydropedological factors (such as soil types, soil properties, and their spatial variations) as the trigger for the hydrological maze, including runoff generation, runoff composition, flow heterogeneity, and various hydrological puzzles. It is clear that the vadose zone is the key source for nonlinear and dissipative complexity in the hydrological maze that is intertwined with hydrochemical and hydroecological dynamics. Therein lies the hope for new hydrological insights and possible solutions to the hydrological maze