Dendritic Hematite Nanoarray Photoanode Modified with a Conformal Titanium Dioxide Interlayer for Effective Charge Collection

This paper describes the introduction of a thin titanium dioxide interlayer that serves as passivation layer and dopant source for hematite (α‐Fe₂O₃) nanoarray photoanodes. This interlayer is demonstrated to boost the photocurrent by suppressing the substrate/hematite interfacial charge recombination, and to increase the electrical conductivity by enabling Ti⁴⁺ incorporation. The dendritic nanostructure of this photoanode with an increased solid–liquid junction area further improves the surface charge collection efficiency, generating a photocurrent of about 2.5 mA cm⁻² at 1.23 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode (vs. RHE) under air mass 1.5G illumination. A photocurrent of approximately 3.1 mA cm⁻² at 1.23 V vs. RHE could be achieved by addition of an iron oxide hydroxide cocatalyst.     

Tailoring a Zinc Oxide Nanorod Surface by Adding an Earth-Abundant Cocatalyst for Induced Sunlight Water Oxidation

Herein, a detailed investigation of the surface modification of a zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorod electrode with FeOOH nanoparticles dispersed in glycine was conducted to improve the water oxidation reaction assisted by sunlight. The results were systematically analysed in terms of the general parameters (light absorption, charge separation, and surface for catalysis) that govern the photocurrent density response of metal oxide as photoanode in a photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell. ZnO electrodes surface were modified with different concentration of FeOOH nanoparticles using the spin-coating deposition method, and it was found that 6-layer deposition of glycine-FeOOH nanoparticles is the optimum condition. The glycine plays an important role decreasing the agglomeration of FeOOH nanoparticles over the ZnO electrode surface and increasing the overall performance. Comparing bare ZnO electrodes with the ones modified with glycine-FeOOH nanoparticles an enhanced photocurrent density can be observed from 0.27 to 0.57 mA/cm² at 1.23 V_RHE under sunlight irradiation. The impedance spectroscopy data aid us to conclude that the higher photocurrent density is an effect associated with more efficient surface for chemical reaction instead of electronic improvement. Nevertheless, the charge separation efficiency remains low for this system. The present discovery shows that the combination of glycine-FeOOH nanoparticle is suitable and environmentally-friend cocatalyst to enhance the ZnO nanorod electrode activity for the oxygen evolution reaction assisted by sunlight irradiation.     

Chemical Vapor Deposition of FeOCl Nanosheet Arrays and Their Conversion to Porous α‐Fe2O3 Photoanodes for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting

FeOCl nanosheet arrays were deposited on fluorine‐doped tin oxide glass substrates through a chemical vapor deposition method and further converted to hematite porous nanosheet arrays. A much enhanced photocurrent was obtained for such hematite films, which was three times higher than that of a planar hematite film at 1.23 V versus a reversible hydrogen reference electrode.     

Underpotential deposition of tin(II) on a gold disc electrode and determination of tin in a tin plate sample

This work describes a study of the underpotential deposition (UPD) of Sn²⁺ on a polycrystalline gold disc electrode using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronocoulometry (CC). Sn²⁺ ions showed well-defined peaks from UPD and UPD stripping (UPD-S) in 1 mol/L HCl solutions, while bulk deposition (BD) and BD stripping (BD-S) of the ions were also observed. The measured UPD shifts, E_UPD, between the UPD-S and the BD-S peaks were more than 200 mV. The UPD charge and the surface coverage of tin were measured by CC. A new method for determining Sn²⁺ was therefore developed, based on the excellent electrochemical properties of the Au/Sn UPD system. A plot of the UPD-DPASV (differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry) signal versus the Sn(II) concentration was obtained for [Sn(II)] of 1.98×10^–7 to 3.64×10^–5 M. The method developed here has been applied to determine the tin in a tin plate sample.     

掺杂纳米金粒子的火焰氧化TiO2膜的光电化学性质的研究

A nano-Au modified TiO2 electrode was prepared via the oxidation of Ti sheet in flame and subsequent modification with gold nanoparticles. The results of SEM and TEM measurements show that the Au nanoparticles are well dispersed on TiO2 surface. A near 2-fold enhancement in photocurrent was achieved upon the modification with Au nanoparticles. From the results of photocurrent and electrochemical impedance experiments it was found that the flatband potential of nano-Au/TiO2 electrode negatively shifted about 100 mV in 0.5 mol/L Na2SO4 solutions compared with that of bare TiO2 electrode. The improvement of photoelectrochemical performance was explained by the inhibition for charge recombination of photo-induced electrons and holes, and the promotion for interracial charge-transfer kinetics at nano-Au/TiO2 composite film. Such nanometal-semiconductor composite films have the potential application in improving the performance of photoelectrochemical solar cells.     

表面In掺杂TiO2的N719/TiO2-Inx%/FTO薄膜电极的光电转换效率

采用溶胶-凝胶法制备出In 表面修饰的TiO₂ (TiO₂-Inx%)纳米粒子, x%代表在In 掺杂的TiO₂样品中In³⁺与In³⁺和Ti⁴⁺离子摩尔百分含量. 利用二(四丁基铵)顺式-双(异硫氰基)双(2,2''-联吡啶-4,4''-二羧酸)钌(II)(N719)作为敏化剂, 制备出N719/TiO₂/FTO (氟掺杂锡氧化物)和N719/TiO₂-Inx%/FTO染料敏化薄膜电极. 光电转换效率实验表明, 在薄膜电极+0.5 mol·L^-1 LiI+0.05 mol·L^-1 I₂的三甲氧基丙腈(MPN)溶液+Pt 光电池体系中,N719/TiO₂-Inx%/FTO薄膜电极的光电转换效率均高于N719/TiO₂/FTO, 其中N719/TiO₂-In0.1%/FTO的光电转换效率比N719/TiO₂/FTO提高了20%. 利用X 射线衍射(XRD)、X 射线光电子能谱(XPS)、漫反射吸收光谱(DRS)、荧光(PL)光谱和表面光电流作用谱确定了TiO₂-Inx%样品中In3+离子的存在方式和能带结构; 利用表面光电流作用谱研究了N719/TiO₂-Inx%/FTO薄膜电极的光致界面电荷转移过程. 结果表明, In3+离子在TiO₂表面形成O-In-Cl_n (n=1, 2)物种, 该物种的表面态能级位于导带下0.3 eV处; 在光电流产生过程中, O-In-Cl_n (n=1, 2)表面态能级有效地抑制了光生载流子在TiO₂-Inx%层的复合, 促进了阳极光电流的增加, 从而导致N719/TiO₂-Inx%/FTO薄膜电极的光电转化效率高于N719/TiO₂/FTO, 并进一步讨论了光致界面电荷转移的机理.     

An Electrochemical Sensing Platform for the Detection of Lead Ions Based on Dicarboxyl‐Calix[4]arene

A simple and highly sensitive electrochemical sensor COOH−C4 derived from dicarboxyl‐calix[4]arene modified on a screen printed gold electrode (Au) was developed for the determination of lead ions in water samples. A 3‐mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) monolayer was used as a template on the gold electrode for the surface modification with dicarboxyl‐calixarene. The modified electrodes were surface‐characterized using Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The data obtained proved the confirmation of each stage of the electrode modification. The electrochemical analyses of the COOH−C4 electrode showed an enhanced electrocatalytic activity and higher current towards Pb²⁺ ions as compared to the bare Au and MPA/Au electrodes. Under optimum conditions, the differential pulse voltammetry response of COOH−C4 displayed a wide linear response ranging from 280–2500 μg/L for Pb²⁺ with a detection limit of 6.2 μg/L. In addition, the fabricated electrode showed a high selectivity and stability towards the Pb²⁺ ions in presence of possible interfering species. The present method was successfully applied to determine Pb²⁺ ions in real samples with satisfactory precision, with a relative standard deviation of 3.12 % and an acceptable recovery of 92 %, which demonstrated the potential application of dicarboxyl‐calix[4]arene modified on electrodes for heavy‐metal sensing.     

Surviving High‐Temperature Calcination: ZrO2‐Induced Hematite Nanotubes for Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation

Nanotubular Fe₂O₃ is a promising photoanode material, and producing morphologies that withstand high‐temperature calcination (HTC) is urgently needed to enhance the photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance. This work describes the design and fabrication of Fe₂O₃ nanotube arrays that survive HTC for the first time. By introducing a ZrO₂ shell on hydrothermal FeOOH nanorods by atomic layer deposition, subsequent high‐temperature solid‐state reaction converts FeOOH‐ZrO₂ nanorods to ZrO₂‐induced Fe₂O₃ nanotubes (Zr‐Fe₂O₃ NTs). The structural evolution of the hematite nanotubes is systematically explored. As a result of the nanostructuring and shortened charge collection distance, the nanotube photoanode shows a greatly improved PEC water oxidation activity, exhibiting a photocurrent density of 1.5 mA cm⁻² at 1.23 V (vs. reversible hydrogen electrode, RHE), which is the highest among hematite nanotube photoanodes without co‐catalysts. Furthermore, a Co‐Pi decorated Zr‐Fe₂O₃ NT photoanode reveals an enhanced onset potential of 0.65 V (vs. RHE) and a photocurrent of 1.87 mA cm⁻² (at 1.23 V vs. RHE).     

Stannous ion determination in99mTc radiopharmaceutical kits

Two simple and selective methods for determination of stannous ion in radiopharmaceutical kits are proposed. One of this permits the estimation of stannic ion. The first method unsed is a potentiometric titration of Sn²⁺ in HCl medium, using KIO₃ solution under nitrogen gas and a platinum redox electrode. The second method consists of a complexometric titration of tin (Sn²⁺ and Sn⁴⁺) using an EDTA standard solution at pH 5.5–5.6 without the use of nitrogen gas. The procedures employed indicate that both methods can be used for routine quantitative determination of tin in most labeled radiopharmaceuticals.     

Coating Polymeric Carbon Nitride Photoanodes on Conductive Y:ZnO Nanorod Arrays for Overall Water Splitting

Polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) photosensitizers are proposed replacements for their inorganic counterparts in solar‐to‐fuel conversion via photoelectrochemical water splitting. However, intense charge recombination, primarily because of surface defects, limits the use of PCN in PEC systems. Now, photoanodes are designed by coating PCN films onto highly conductive yttrium‐doped zinc oxide (Y:ZnO) nanorods (NRs) serving as charge collectors. The generation of charge carriers can therefore be promoted by this type II alignment. The charge collectors would be kept nearby for charge separation and transport to be used in the interfacial redox reactions. The photocurrent density of the polymer electrode is improved to 0.4 mA cm^?2 at 1.23 V vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode in a Na₂SO₄ electrolyte solution under AM 1.5 illumination. The result reveals a more than 50‐fold enhancement over the PCN films achieved by powder; the efficiency can be preserved at 95 % for 160 minutes.     

Highly Selective and Sensitive Tin(II) Membrane Electrode Based on a New Synthesized Schiff's Base

Studies on complex formation of tris(3‐(2‐hydroxybenzophenone)propyl)amine (THPA) with a number of metal ions in acetonitrile solution revealed the occurrence of a selective 1 : 1 complexation of the proposed ligand with Sn²⁺ ion. Consequently, THPA was used as a suitable neutral ionophore for the preparation of a polymeric membrane‐selective electrode. The electrode exhibits a Nernstian behavior with a slope of 29.4±0.3 mV per decade and a detection limit of 2.0×10^?7 M. It also showed a good selectivity for Sn²⁺ ions in comparison with some of group A and B metal ions over a wide concentration range of 5.0×10^?7–1.0×10^?1 M. Improved selectivity was achieved compared to the best selectivity recently reported by other authors for tin(II). The electrode was successfully applied to the determination of Sn²⁺ ion in waste water and various canned products.     

Mössbauer effect at <Superscript>119</Superscript>Sn<Superscript>4+</Superscript> nuclei in fine crystalline MnO

The hyperfine structure of the low-temperature Mössbauer spectra of dopant ¹¹⁹Sn⁴⁺ ions (0.4 at. %) in a fine crystalline MnO sample, characterized by X-ray diffraction and magnetic measurements, has been studied. The ¹¹⁹Sn spectra show that tin is distributed over positions with an inhomogeneous cationic environment. The appearance of such positions is explained by the local compensation for the excess charge of Sn⁴⁺ by manganese vacancies V _Mn and segregation of defects resulting in precipitation of MnSnO₃ clusters. The non-uniform distribution of Sn⁴⁺ and the related dependence of the number of broken magnetic bonds on the local tin concentration are responsible for the fluctuation of the T _N values, which is “perceived” by ¹¹⁹Sn in different MnO crystallites. The ¹¹⁹Sn spectra exclude the possibility that tin enters into the composition of superpara-magnetic particles.     

A High-Efficiency Hematite Photoanode with Enhanced Bonding Energy Around Fe Atoms

Hematite nanoarrays are important photoanode materials. However, they suffer from serious problems of charge transfer and surface states; in particular, the surface states hinder the increase in photocurrent. A previous strategy to suppress the surface state is the deposition of an Fe-free metal oxide overlayer. Herein, from the viewpoint of atomic bonding energy, it is found that the strength of bonding around Fe atoms in the hematite is the key to suppressing the surface states. By treating the surface of hematite with Se and NaBH₄, the Fe₂O₃ transforms to a double-layer nanostructure. In the outer layer, the Fe−O bonding is reinforced and the Fe−Se bonding is even stronger. Therefore, the surface states are inhibited and the increase in the photocurrent density becomes much faster. Besides, the treatment constructs a nanoscale p–n junction to promote the charge transfer. Improvements are achieved in onset potential (0.25 V shift) and in photocurrent density (5.8 times). This work pinpoints the key to suppressing the surface states and preparing a high-efficiency hematite nanoarray, and deepens our understanding of hematite photoanodes.     

Highly Efficient Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting with an Immobilized Molecular Co4O4 Cubane Catalyst

Molecular Co₄O₄ cubane water oxidation catalysts were combined with BiVO₄ electrodes for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. The results show that tuning the substituent groups on cobalt cubane allows the PEC properties of the final molecular catalyst/BiVO₄ hybrid photoanodes to be tailored. Upon loading a new cubane complex featuring alkoxy carboxylato bridging ligands ( 1 h ) on BiVO₄, an AM 1.5G photocurrent density of 5 mA cm⁻² at 1.23 V vs. RHE for water oxidation was obtained, the highest photocurrent for undoped BiVO₄ photoanodes. A high solar‐energy conversion efficiency of 1.84 % was obtained for the integrated photoanode, a sixfold enhancement over that of unmodified BiVO₄. These results and the high surface charge separation efficiency support the role of surface‐modified molecular catalysts in improving PEC performance and demonstrate the potential of molecule/semiconductor hybrids for efficient artificial photosynthesis.     

Ultra‐Narrow Depletion Layers in a Hematite Mesocrystal‐Based Photoanode for Boosting Multihole Water Oxidation

Significant charge recombination that is difficult to suppress limits the practical applications of hematite (α‐Fe₂O₃) for photoelectrochemical water splitting. In this study, Ti‐modified hematite mesocrystal superstructures assembled from highly oriented tiny nanoparticle (NP) subunits with sizes of ca. 5 nm were developed to achieve the highest photocurrent density (4.3 mA cm^?2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE) ever reported for hematite‐based photoanodes under back illumination. Owing to rich interfacial oxygen vacancies yielding an exceedingly high carrier density of 4.1×10²¹ cm^?3 for super bulk conductivity in the electrode and a large proportion of ultra‐narrow depletion layers (<1 nm) inside the mesoporous film for significantly improved hole collection efficiency, a boosting of multihole water oxidation with very low activation energy (E_a=44 meV) was realized.     

Gold(Core)–Lead(Shell) Nanoparticle‐Loaded Titanium(IV) Oxide Prepared by Underpotential Photodeposition: Plasmonic Water Oxidation

Underpotential photodeposition of Pb yields an ultrathin shell layer on the Au(111) surface of Au nanoparticle(NP)‐loaded TiO₂ (Au/TiO₂) with heteroepitaxial nanojunctions. The localized surface plasmon resonance of Au/TiO₂ undergoes no damping with the Pb‐shell formation, and the Pb shell offers resistance to aerobic oxidation. Mesoporous films comprising the Au(core)–Pb(shell) NP‐loaded TiO₂ and unmodified Au/TiO₂ were formed on fluorine‐doped tin oxide (FTO) electrode. Using them as the photoanode, photoelectrochemical cells were fabricated, and the photocurrent was measured under illumination of simulated sunlight. The photocurrent for water splitting is dramatically enhanced by the Pb‐shell formation. The photoelectrochemical measurements of the hot‐electron lifetime and density functional theory calculations for model clusters indicate that the Pb‐shell effect originates from the charge separation enhancement.     

Multifunctional Molecular Material Combining Photocurrent Generation and Second-Order Optical Nonlinearity in LB Monolayer Films

ＩｎｔｒｏｄｕｃｔｉｏｎＭｏｌｅｃｕｌａｒｎｏｎｌｉｎｅａｒｏｐｔｉｃｓ (ＮＬＯ)ｈａｓａｔｔｒａｃｔｅｄｉｎ ｃｒｅａｓｉｎｇｉｎｔｅｒｅｓｔｏｖｅｒｔｈｅｐａｓｔｔｅｎｙｅａｒｓ ,ｂｅｃａｕｓｅｏｆｔｈｅｉｒｐｏｔｅｎｔｉａｌａｐｐｌｉｃａｔｉｏｎｓｉｎｖａｒｉｏｕｓｆｉｅｌｄｓｉｎｃｌｕｄｉｎｇｔｅｌｅｃｏｍ ｍｕｎｉｃａｔｉｏｎｓ ,ｏｐｔｉｃａｌｄａｔａｓｔｏｒａｇｅａｎｄｐｒｏｃｅｓｓｉｎｇａｎｄｏｐｔｉ ｃａｌｐｏｗｅｒｌｉｍｉｔａｔｉｏｎ .1,2 Ｉｔｉｓｗｅｌｌｋｎｏｗｎｔｈａｔｔｈｅｐ…     

Unusual electronic state of tin dopant atoms in surface layers of NiTiO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

The ¹¹⁹Sn Mössbauer spectra of polycrystalline NiTiO₃ samples impregnated with a solution containing 0.3 at % Sn⁴⁺ are evidence that annealing in H₂ converts tin into the state with the electron density |Ψ(0)|² on ¹¹⁹Sn nuclei corresponding to “Sn³⁺” ions. The stabilization of tin atoms in such an untypical formal oxidation state occurs at a depth of no more than 2–3 nm from the surface of titanate crystallites. It was revealed that the Sn³⁺ ions are not subjected to spin polarization even at temperatures considerably lower than the Néel temperature of NiTiO₃, which can be explained by their location in the Ni²⁺ positions. The formation of Sn3+ prevents the further reduction of tin to the divalent state and, hence, precludes localization of ¹¹⁹Sn probe cations in positions at the interface.     

Abnormal Cathodic Photocurrent Generated on an n‐Type FeOOH Nanorod‐Array Photoelectrode

A simple, wet‐chemical method for the synthesis of an FeOOH nanorod‐array photoelectrode on fluorine‐doped tin oxide (FTO) glass is reported. Nanorods of diameter about 35 nm and length about 300 nm have been vertically grown on an FTO substrate. Upon calcination, the FeOOH phase could be easily converted to a hematite structure while maintaining the shape of the nanorod array. An interesting abnormal cathodic photocurrent is generated on the FeOOH nanorod‐array photoelectrode under illumination, which is totally different from that obtained on a calcined hematite photoelectrode under the same experimental conditions. The cathodic photocurrent density generated on the FeOOH photoelectrode can also be tuned by applying an electrochemical anodic or cathodic treatment. Detailed analysis has revealed that higher valence state Fe^IV species in the FeOOH photoelectrode play an important role in sacrificing the photoexcited electrons for generation of the cathodic photocurrent. Comparison between the FeOOH and hematite photoelectrodes allows for a better understanding of the interplay between crystal structure, surface reactions, and photocurrent. The findings on this new abnormal phenomenon could also provide guidance for the design of new types of semiconducting photoelectrochemical devices.     

The Use of the Bismuth Film Electrode for the Anodic Stripping Voltammetric Determination of Tin

Bismuth coated glassy carbon electrodes have been applied to the square‐wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) of trace concentrations of tin. Optimization of Bismuth Film Electrode (BFE) performance was conducted after initial comparison with the more traditional mercury electrode. Simultaneous deposition of tin and bismuth at ?1.3 V for 2 minutes in a supporting electrolyte of 2.5 M sodium bromide utilizing a square‐wave stripping step, allowed analysis of tin at the μg L^?1 level. Parameters, such as deposition potential and time, bismuth concentration, square‐waveform settings including amplitude, step height and frequency were studied and optimized. The dependence of stripping current on deposition time indicates that using longer deposition time should facilitate sub μg L^?1 analysis. Tin was analyzed simultaneously with cadmium and either indium or thallium; Where as lead and copper were not resolved from the stripping peaks of tin and bismuth respectively. Finally, the method was applied to the analysis of tin in fruit juice.