Abstract: A method for coating a substrate with a Co-Pi modified BiVO4/WO3 heterostructure film includes direct current reactive sputtering tungsten (W) onto a substrate in a gaseous mixture containing oxygen to form a tungsten trioxide (WO3) film, direct current reactive sputtering bismuth (Bi) onto the tungsten trioxide (WO3) film in a gaseous mixture containing oxygen to form a dibismuth trioxide (Bi2O3) film, drop-casting a vanadyl acetylacetonate solution onto the Bi2O3 film and heating at a temperature of at least 450° C. in ambient air to convert the Bi2O3 film to a BiVO4 film, and photoelectrochemically coating the BiVO4 film with a cobalt-phosphate (Co-Pi) to form a modified film on the surface of the substrate. A photoanode containing the Co-Pi modified BiVO4/WO3 heterostructure film prepared by the method, and its application in water splitting.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of making a zeolite. The method includes mixing an aluminum nitrate with an aqueous solution of NaOH to form a first mixture followed by mixing silica gel with the first mixture to form a second mixture. The second mixture is heated with microwave irradiation to form a first sample. The method further includes washing, drying, and ion exchanging the first sample with ammonium nitrate to form a second sample. The method includes calcining the second sample to form the zeolite, wherein the method does not use a seed or a structural directing agent.

Abstract: A method for making an electrocatalyst containing manganese oxide nanoparticles present on carbon obtained from Albizia procera (MnOxNPs-C) for electrochemical water oxidation. The method includes a thermal decomposition and forms a product with specific morphological variations, including crystalline structure, elemental composition, and chemical compatibility. The manganese oxide nanoparticles are well dispersed over the carbon. The amount of manganese oxide nanoparticles increases by increasing the amount of precursor. Single-phase formation of the Mn3O4, and Mn3O4 along with MnO phase occurs at low and high amount of the precursor materials, respectively. The electrocatalyst can be used for the purpose electrolytic water splitting.

Abstract: According to one or more embodiments, non-agglomerated, nano-sized ZSM-22 zeolites may be synthesized by methods comprising operating a mechanical rotation drum unit at a first temperature of from 40° C. to 60° C. and a first speed of from 200 rpm to 1000 rpm for a first time period of from 1.3 hours to 2.7 hours; operating the mechanical rotation drum unit at a second speed of from 30 rpm to 90 rpm for a second time period of from 0.05 hours to 0.4 hours; heating the mechanical rotation drum unit at a ramping temperature of from 8° C./minute to 12° C./minute to a second temperature of from 115° C. to 185° C. at the second speed; operating the mechanical rotation drum unit at the second temperature and the second speed for a third time period of from 30 hours to 90 hours; and cooling the mechanical rotation drum unit at a fourth speed of 0 rpm.

Abstract: A hydrogen gas sensor with a substrate and a zinc oxide nanostructured thin film deposited on the substrate, wherein the zinc oxide nanostructured thin film has a lattice structure with a weight ratio of low binding energy O2? ions to medium binding energy oxygen vacancies in a range of 0.1 to 1.0, and a method of fabricating a gas sensor by thermally oxidizing a metal thin film under low oxygen partial pressure. Various combinations of embodiments of the hydrogen gas sensor and the method of fabricating the gas sensor are provided.

Abstract: A hydrogen sensor that efficiently detects hydrogen gas at room temperature comprising a gold decorated reduced graphene oxide/zinc oxide (Au/rGO/ZnO) heterostructured composite, methods for making this sensor and a method for sensitive room temperature detection of hydrogen using the sensor.

Abstract: A hydrogen gas sensor with a substrate and a zinc oxide nanostructured thin film deposited on the substrate, wherein the zinc oxide nanostructured thin film has a lattice structure with a weight ratio of low binding energy O2? ions to medium binding energy oxygen vacancies in a range of 0.1 to 1.0, and a method of fabricating a gas sensor by thermally oxidizing a metal thin film under low oxygen partial pressure. Various combinations of embodiments of the hydrogen gas sensor and the method of fabricating the gas sensor are provided.

Abstract: A hydrogen gas sensor with a substrate and a zinc oxide nanostructured thin film deposited on the substrate, wherein the zinc oxide nanostructured thin film has a lattice structure with a weight ratio of low binding energy O2? ions to medium binding energy oxygen vacancies in a range of 0.1 to 1.0, and a method of fabricating a gas sensor by thermally oxidizing a metal thin film under low oxygen partial pressure. Various combinations of embodiments of the hydrogen gas sensor and the method of fabricating the gas sensor are provided.

Abstract: According to one or more embodiments, non-agglomerated, nano-sized ZSM-22 zeolites may be synthesized by methods comprising operating a mechanical rotation drum unit at a first temperature of from 40° C. to 60° C. and a first speed of from 200 rpm to 1000 rpm for a first time period of from 1.3 hours to 2.7 hours; operating the mechanical rotation drum unit at a second speed of from 30 rpm to 90 rpm for a second time period of from 0.05 hours to 0.4 hours; heating the mechanical rotation drum unit at a ramping temperature of from 8° C./minute to 12° C./minute to a second temperature of from 115° C. to 185° C. at the second speed; operating the mechanical rotation drum unit at the second temperature and the second speed for a third time period of from 30 hours to 90 hours; and cooling the mechanical rotation drum unit at a fourth speed of 0 rpm.

Abstract: According to embodiments, methods for the production of boron-silicalite-1 are disclosed. In embodiments, the method may include combining a mineralizer agent, a templating agent, water, and boric acid in a first microwave unit; heating the first microwave unit to form a boron-zeolite; calcining the boron-zeolite to form an alkali-zeolite; combining the alkali-zeolite with ammonium nitrate to produce an ion-exchanged zeolite; heating the ion-exchanged zeolite to form a protonated zeolite; and calcining the protonated zeolite to form the boron-silicalite-1. In embodiments, the method may include combining a templating agent, water, and boric acid in a first hydrothermal unit; heating the first microwave unit to form a boron-zeolite; calcining the boron-zeolite to form an alkali-zeolite; combining the alkali-zeolite with ammonium nitrate to produce an ion-exchanged zeolite; heating the ion-exchanged zeolite to form a protonated zeolite; and calcining the protonated zeolite to form the boron-silicalite-1.

Abstract: Methods and systems for production of consistently-sized BEA zeolite nano-crystals, the method including mixing an emulsion, the emulsion comprising a surfactant and an organic solvent; heating the emulsion; mixing a zeolite solution, the zeolite solution comprising a silicon-containing compound and an aluminum-containing compound; heating the zeolite solution; adding the emulsion to the zeolite solution drop-wise over time to create an zeolite emulsion solution mixture; heating the zeolite emulsion solution mixture; and precipitating the consistently-sized BEA zeolite nano-crystals.

Abstract: Methods and systems for production of consistently-sized BEA zeolite nano-crystals incorporating at least one metal oxide, the method including removing an organic template from a BEA zeolite comprising an organic template via calcination; desilicating the BEA zeolite following the step of removing the organic template; incorporating at least one metal oxide into the structure of the BEA zeolite after the step of desilicating; protonating the BEA zeolite after the step of incorporating the at least one metal oxide; and calcining the BEA zeolite after the step of protonating to form a modified BEA zeolite product.

Abstract: A method of preparing porous nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheets by pyrolysis of Albizia procera leaves. The nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheets display enhanced electrochemical properties including large surface area and specific capacitance. Electrodes coated with the nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheets are particularly suitable for use in supercapacitors and solar cells.

Abstract: Monodisperse carboxylate functionalized gold nanoparticles comprising a capping agent layer of pamoic acid and colloidal suspensions thereof are disclosed. These gold nanoparticles have an average particle size of greater than 15 nm or less than 8 nm and demonstrate significant fluorescent properties. In addition, a method for the size controlled preparation of these monodisperse carboxylate functionalized gold nanoparticles wherein pamoic acid acts as both a reducing and capping agent and wherein the size of the particles can be controlled by the pH of the process is disclosed. In addition, a method for the size controlled preparation of these monodisperse carboxylate functionalized gold nanoparticles utilizing seed mediated growth is disclosed.

Abstract: A room temperature nitrogen dioxide gas sensor comprising tin(IV) oxide decorated with gold nanoparticles is described. The tin(IV) oxide may have an average layer thickness of 10-1,000 nm, and is topped with dispersed gold nanoparticles having an average longest dimension of 200-650 nm. The room temperature nitrogen dioxide gas sensor may be used to detect and measure levels of nitrogen dioxide gas at room temperature and at concentrations of 100 ppb-1800 ppm, with a high stability. A method of making the room temperature nitrogen dioxide sensor is also described, and involves sputtering to deposit a tin(IV) oxide layer and a gold layer on a substrate, followed by annealing.

Abstract: Systems and methods for production of externally-pore-blocked, internally-pore-opened modified zeolite crystals, the method including mixing zeolite crystals with an organic pore blocking agent; heating the zeolite crystals mixed with the organic pore blocking agent to block internal pores of the zeolite crystals and produce internally-pore-blocked zeolite crystals; mixing the internally-pore-blocked zeolite crystals with an external pore blocking agent; and calcining the internally-pore-blocked zeolite crystals mixed with the external pore blocking agent, to re-open internal pores via decomposition of the organic pore blocking agent and to block external pores via formation of a silica layer over external pores of the zeolite crystals, forming the externally-pore-blocked, internally-pore-opened modified zeolite crystals.

Abstract: A hydrogen sensor that efficiently detects hydrogen gas at room temperature comprising a gold decorated reduced graphene oxide/zinc oxide (Au/rGO/ZnO) heterostructured composite, methods for making this sensor and a method for sensitive room temperature detection of hydrogen using the sensor.

Abstract: Methods and systems for production of consistently-sized BEA zeolite nano-crystals, the method including mixing an emulsion, the emulsion comprising a surfactant and an organic solvent; heating the emulsion; mixing a zeolite solution, the zeolite solution comprising a silicon-containing compound and an aluminum-containing compound; heating the zeolite solution; adding the emulsion to the zeolite solution drop-wise over time to create an zeolite emulsion solution mixture; heating the zeolite emulsion solution mixture; and precipitating the consistently-sized BEA zeolite nano-crystals.

Abstract: Systems and methods for production of consistently-sized ZSM-22 zeolite catalyst crystals, a method including preparing an aluminate solution; preparing a silica solution; mixing the aluminate solution and the silica solution to form a zeolite-forming solution; heating the zeolite solution with microwave irradiation in a first, a second, a third, and a fourth distinct isothermal stage to produce the consistently-sized ZSM-22 zeolite catalyst crystals within a pre-selected crystal size range using a non-ionic surfactant.

Abstract: Systems and methods for production of externally-pore-blocked, internally-pore-opened modified zeolite crystals, the method including mixing zeolite crystals with an organic pore blocking agent; heating the zeolite crystals mixed with the organic pore blocking agent to block internal pores of the zeolite crystals and produce internally-pore-blocked zeolite crystals; mixing the internally-pore-blocked zeolite crystals with an external pore blocking agent; and calcining the internally-pore-blocked zeolite crystals mixed with the external pore blocking agent, to re-open internal pores via decomposition of the organic pore blocking agent and to block external pores via formation of a silica layer over external pores of the zeolite crystals, forming the externally-pore-blocked, internally-pore-opened modified zeolite crystals.