Yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) polymeric sols were synthesized by controlled hydrolysis and condensation of zirconium tetra-n-propoxide. Yttrium nitrate was added before hydrolysis as the source of yttria. Acetylacetone was used as chelating ligand to modify the reaction rate of zirconium alkoxide. The dependence of YSZ sol formation as well as gelation time was investigated experimentally on the contents of acetylacetone, n-propanol (solvent) and water for hydrolysis. With a stable sol, YSZ membranes were prepared on porous a-alumina supports by a dip-coating process. The membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and gas permeability testing. Unsupported YSZ membranes were also prepared with the same sol, and were investigated with isothermal nitrogen adsorption/desorption porosimetry and X-ray diffraction. The results show that YSZ membranes with nanosize pores were successfully prepared by the sol

An array of iron nanowires within polyaniline nanotubules was obtained using a two-step template synthesis. First, an array of polyaniline nanotubules was synthesized in an alumina template, and then it was used as a "second-order template" for electrodeposition of iron within the polyaniline nanotubules. The polyaniline envelope may protect the iron nanowires against the corrosive atmosphere. The composite nanostructure was characterized by EDX, XRD and SEM and its magnetic properties were measured by VSM. Coercive forces of the array of iron nanowires encapsulated within polyaniline range from about 119 to 210 Oe with an increase from 0 to 90

An ordered array of C70 single crystal nanowires was prepared by a sol-gel template method which is composed of three steps: generation of the C70 sol; deposition of C70 sol particles in the pores of the alumina membrane; and annealing of the resulting C70 composite in an argon atmosphere.

Semiconductor In2O3 nanowires embedded in an alumina template were fabricated using template technology. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy observations show that the In2O3 nanowire single crystal has an average diameter around 80nm and a length over 10mm. A strong photoluminescence (PL) emission with a peak at 398nm (3.12eV in photon energy) was detected upon excitation of the In2O3 nanowires at 274nm (4.53eV in photon energy) and 305nm (4.08eV in photon energy) under room temperature. The observed UV PL emission is attributed to the near band edge emission.

An array of nickel nanowires enveloped in polyaniline nanotubules was prepared by the "econd-order-template" method. As the first step, an array of the polyaniline nanotubules was synthesized in the pores of an alumina membrane, then nickel nanowires were fabricated by electrochemical deposition of the nickel into the polyaniline nanotubules. The composite nanostructure was characterized by x-ray powder diffraction, and scanning electron micrography. Its magnetic properties were measured by a vibrating sample magnetometer. The coercivity and remanence are of high anisotropy with a maximum at θ=90°(parallel to the nanowires).