Non-woven poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning technology. The morphology of the electros pun fibers was observed using scanning electron Microscopy (SEM) and the fiber diameter was calculated. Primary human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) were cultured to evaluate the biocompatibility of the electrospun PLGA nanofibers. The results of MTT testing and SEM showed that the PLGA nanofibers have the morphology of interwoven and highly porous structure and can support the attachment and proliferation of HDFs. It is can be expected to be a potential scaffold material for tissue engineering.

A novel composite photocatalyst, Pt-TiO2-xNx-WO3 was synthesized by the template method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet-visible light diffusion spectroscopy (UV-vis), and element analysis. XRD spectra indicated that the photocatalyst was in anatase form and the diagnostic peak for WO3 existed. Combined with the XRD spectra and the results of elemental analysis, the formula of the composite photocatalyst was determined to be Pt-TiO2-xNx-WO3. UV-vis spectra showed the absorption edge was red-shifted to around 750 nm. Under the irradiation of ultraviolet, and with Na2S/Na2SO3 as the sacrificial reagent, the composite photocatalyst showed higher hydrogen production activity than anatase TiO2, and under irradiation with visible light (λ>400nm) it showed higher hydrogen production activity than TiO2-xNx while the anatase TiO2 showed negligible activity. An explanation was put forward for the mechanism of the red-shift of the absorption edge and the hydrogen production activity improvement.

A series of Cd1−xZnxS (x=0-0.92) photocatalysts were prepared by coprecipitation method and were calcined at 723K under N2 atmosphere. X-ray diffraction patterns results showed that the solid solution of Cd1-xZnxS were formed between ZnS and CdS. UV-Vis spectra indicated that the absorption edges of Cd1-xZnxS were red-shifted as the value of x decreased. The band gaps of the photocatalysts were estimated to be between 2.20-3.12 eV (x=0-0.92) from the onsets of the absorption edges and almost showed linear variation with x increasing. The position of conduction band for solid solution is shifted towards more negative potential as compared to that of CdS. The hydrogen productions of Cd1-xZnxS (x=0-0.92) by splitting water photocatalytically under ultraviolet and visible light irradiation were carried out in an inner-irradiation type reactor. The results indicated that the photocatalyst of Cd0.62Zn0.16S has the highest rate of hydrogen evolution with the quantum efficiency of 2.17%and 0.60%under ultraviolet and visible light irradiation, respectively. It has been considered that the crystallite size, (101) plane and band gap for the Cd1-xZnxS solid solutions have a strong influence on the efficiency of hydrogen production capability for water splitting.

Aligned polypyrrole (PPy) micro/nanotubules were synthesized via a self-assembly method using FeCl3 as oxidant and Acid Red 1 (C.I. 18050, 5-(acetylamino)-4-hydroxy-3-(phenylazo)-2,7-naphthalenedisulfonic acid) as dopant. PPy has a typical length of 530 mm and a unique rectangular-sectioned morphology. Its general morphology could be manipulated by varying synthetic conditions including polymerization time, monomer concentration, oxidant species, and stirring. The synthesized PPy and reaction intermediates were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and solubility tests in methanol and water. Our observation and results suggest a plausible formation mechanism of rectangular-sectioned PPy micro/nanotubules. AR1eFe(II) complex formed from the complexation of Acid Red 1 and Fe2þ(reduced from Fe3þ), which precipitated in the aqueous solution, might have functioned as"template"during the polymerization of pyrrole monomers. The conductivity of PPy with different morphologies was also measured and compared.

A composite photocatalyst, Pd-TiO2-xNx-WO3, was synthesized by the template method and characterized by energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-vis spectrometer, and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results of EDX analysis reveals that the molecular formula of the composite photocatalyst can be expressed as Pd-TiO1.72N0.28-WO3. The UV–vis absorption spectrum indicates that the absorption edge of the catalyst red-shifts to around 600 nm. Under the irradiation with ultraviolet and visible light, the catalyst showed good performance for photocatalytic hydrogen production with a Na2S/Na2SO3 system as the sacrificial agent.