The influence of precursors on the morphology of ZnO is studied. The diameter and the aspect ratio of the ZnO nanorods, as well as the aggregate state, vary when different precursors are used. ZnO nanorods, nanotubes, nanoneedles, as well as aggregates of flower- and quasi-sphere-like nanorods are obtained. Besides the influence of precursors, acidity–basicity and reaction temperature are also studied. The precursors and products are characterized by x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy.

Shale hydration and swelling are major hindrances for using water-based drilling fluids to develop shale gas. Quantitative investigation of the hydration behavior of clay minerals is helpful to further develop high-performance inhibitors to use with water-based drilling fluids. In this work, the hydration behavior of sodium montmorillonite (Na-MMT) was investigated by isothermal adsorption, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) with microporous crucible technology and low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR). The adsorbed water content and the basal spacing of Na-MMT were found to be a function of relative humidity. The adsorbed water on Na-MMT of the first step by TGA was the cationic interlayer water. The adsorbed water of the second step was the interlayer surface water. The adsorbed water of the third step was the sum of the part of interlayer surface water and free water. The experimental results of the cationic interlayer water and interlayer surface water measured using LF-NMR were consistent with the TGA results. According to the above results, it was inferred that if the cationic interlayer water and interlayer surface water can be removed, the surface hydration of Na-MMT could be completely inhibited.

Described herein is a strategy to construct cationic azahelicenes through the three‐component annulation reaction of isoquinoline, indole, and 1,2‐dichloroethane (DCE), in which DCE serves as an in situ activating agent for C1−H activation of isoquinoline, a vinyl equivalent, and a solvent. This in situ activation annulation reaction features a facile one‐step synthesis and complete regioselectivity. The complete regioselectivity of C1 over C3 for the isoquinoline ring paves a path to the helical structure in a highly ordered sequence. One of the synthesized ionic [5]azahelicenium fluorophores exhibits the potential to serve as a mitochondria‐targeted biomarker with good photostability and low cytotoxicity.

ZnO nanowires with diameters in the range of 10 to 30 nm and lengths of ca. several micrometers are prepared with the use of ZnO nanoparticles as building blocks. The length and diameter of the ZnO nanowires can be controlled by the variation of the concentration of the nanoparticles in the orientation attachment process. A plausible mechanism for the concentration‐controlled orientation attachment process is suggested. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2006)

A series of ZnS nanostructures with controllable crystal phase and morphology were synthesized by a solvothermal method using Zn(NCS) 2 (C 5 H 5 N) 2 as a precursor. Nanospheres, microflowers, and microspheres assembled with hexagonal or cubic nanocrystals were obtained in different solvents. Phase evolution of ZnS in polyols was also discussed. Hexagonal ZnS is stable in polyols with neighboring hydroxyl, whereas cubic ZnS is stable in polyols without neighboring hydroxyl. The ligation of hydroxyl groups with Zn atoms on the surface of ZnS is responsible for the phase evolution of ZnS in polyols.