Infrared spectra of two sexithiophenes in neutral and doped states: a theoretical and spectroscopic study

The FT-infrared spectra of two sexithiophenes having their end ,′-positions substituted by n-hexyl or -thiohexyl groups, in neutral and doped states, are studied with the main aim of deriving information about the π-electrons delocalization and about the electronic structure of the charged defects created upon doping with iodine. The analysis of the experimental data is aided by Density Functional Theory calculations. The modifications in the electronic structure of the sexithiophene backbone induced by the n-thiohexyl encapsulation are discussed from the point of view of single molecule interactions in thiol-terminated π-conjugated oligomers bound to metallic or cluster electrodes.     

Boron-iron nanochains for selective electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate

The electrocatalysis of nitrate reduction reaction(NRR) has been considered to be a promising nitrate removal technology.Developing a highly effective iron-based electrocatalyst is an essential challenge for NRR.Herein,boron-iron nanochains(B-Fe NCs) as efficient NRR catalysts were prepared via a facile lowcost and scalable method.The Fe/B ratio of the B-Fe NCs-x can be elaborately adjusted to optimize the NRR catalytic performance.Due to the electron transfer from boron to metal,the metal-metal bonds are weakened and the electron density near the metal atom centers are rearranged,which are favor of the conversion from NO_3~-into N_2.Moreover,the well-crosslinked chain-like architectures benefit the mass/electron transport to boost the exposure of abundant catalytic active sites.Laboratory experiments demonstrated that the optimized B-Fe NCs catalyst exhibits superior intrinsic electrocatalytic NRR activity of high nitrate conversion(～80%),ultrahigh nitrogen selectivity(～99%) and excellent long-term reactivity in the mixed electrolyte system(0.02 mol/L NaCl and 0.02 mol/L Na_2 SO_4 mixed electrolyte),and the electrocatalytic activity of the material shows poor performance at low chloride ion concentration(Nitrate conversion of ～61 % and nitrogen selectivity of ～57% in 0.005 mol/L NaCl and 0.035 mol/L Na_2 SO_4 mixed electrolyte).This study provides a broad application prospect for further exploring the highefficiency and low-cost iron-based functional nanostructures for electrocatalytic nitrate reduction.     

Rational Synthesis of Iron/Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Catalyst through a Spatial Isolation Strategy for Efficient Oxygen Reduction in Acidic and Alkaline Media

It remains challenging to rationally synthesize iron/nitrogen-doped carbon (Fe/N-C) catalysts with rich Fe−N_x atomic active sites for improved oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysis. A highly efficient Fe/N-C catalyst, which has been synthesized through a spatial isolation strategy, is reported. Derived from bioinspired polydopamine (PDA)-based hybrid microsphere precursors, it is a multifunctional carrier that loads atomically dispersed Fe³⁺/Zn²⁺ ions through coordination interactions and N-rich melamine through electrostatic attraction and covalent bonding. The Zn²⁺ ions and melamine in the precursor efficiently isolate Fe³⁺ atoms upon pyrolysis to form rich Fe−N_x atomic active sites, and generate abundant micropores during high-temperature treatment; as a consequence, the resultant Fe-N/C catalyst contains rich catalytically active Fe−N_x sites and a hierarchical porous structure. The catalyst exhibits improved ORR activity that is superior to and close to that of Pt/C in alkaline and acidic solutions, respectively.     

第一性原理计算N掺杂对InNbO4电子结构的影响

宽带隙（3.83 eV）半导体光催化材料InNbO4在紫外光作用下具有分解水和降解有机物的性能。最近实验发现了N掺杂InNbO4具有可见光下分解水制氢的活性。为了从理论上解释这一实验现象，本文采用基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理计算了N掺杂对InNbO4的能带结构、态密度和光学性质的影响。分析能带结构可得，N掺杂后在InNbO4的价带（O 2p）上方形成N 2p局域能级，导致电子跃迁所需的能量减小。吸收光谱表明，N掺杂后InNbO4的光吸收边出现了红移，实现了可见光吸收。     

Improved efficiency of organic solar cells with modified hole‐extraction layers

The aim of this work has been to study the influence of modified hole‐extraction layers on the performance of organic solar cells (OSCs) based on blends of poly (3‐hexylthiophene) and [6,6]‐phenyl‐C₆₁‐butyric acid methyl ester. The hole‐extraction layers consist of poly (3,4‐ethylene dioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonic acid (PEDOT:PSS) doped with different concentrations of bromine. Compared with pristine OSC without adding bromine to the hole‐extraction layer, the bromine‐doped OSCs show a 49% increase in the power conversion efficiency (from 2.12 to 3.16%), which could be attributed to the increase of electrical and optical properties of PEDOT:PSS films after the addition of bromine. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 50: 125–128, 2012     

Photocatalytic activity of divalent ion (copper,zinc and magnesium) doped NiAl2O4

Nickel aluminate (NiAl₂O₄) and doped nickel aluminate (Ni_1-xM_xAl₂O₄; M = Mg, Zn, Cu; x = 0.1) were prepared by sol-gel method using citric acid. The synthesized compounds were analyzed by various techniques such as powder XRD, FTIR, SEM-EDAX and UV-DRS. The lattice parameter was found to increase with the copper, zinc and magnesium doping in nickel aluminate. The band gap was decreased from 3.0 eV (NiAl₂O₄) to 2.9 (zinc doped), 2.7 eV (magnesium doped) and increased to 3.1 eV in the case of copper doping. The catalytic study was carried out for a cationic (methylene blue) and an anionic dye (methyl orange). The percentage degradation of methyl orange using Zn_0.1Ni_0.9Al₂O₄ and Mg_0.1Ni_0.9Al₂O₄ was found to be 92% (180 min) and 96% (90 min). 93% (120 min) and 97% (120 min) degradation of methylene blue was observed using zinc doped and magnesium doped nickel aluminate respectively. These results are comparatively higher than its parent analogue (94% (180 min) degradation against methyl orange and 91% (120 min) against methylene blue). Whereas the percentage degradation was found to be less in the case of Cu_0.1Ni_0.9Al₂O₄ (83% (180 min) against methyl orange and 90% (120 min) against methylene blue).     

非金属掺杂改性g-C3N4光催化降解水中有机污染物的研究进展

近年来，石墨相氮化碳(g-C₃N₄)以其合适的带隙宽度、丰富的活性位点和成本低廉等优点，成为新兴的可见光响应非金属光催化剂，被广泛应用于光催化降解有机污染物领域。然而，纯g-C₃N₄对可见光的吸收效率较低且光生电子和空穴复合速率快，导致其光催化活性处于较低水平。基于g-C₃N₄的非金属特性，通过非金属掺杂可以有效提高g-C₃N₄的光催化性能，引起了学者们的广泛关注。本文介绍了目前非金属掺杂g-C₃N₄复合材料常见的制备方法，着重归纳了不同类型的非金属掺杂g-C₃N₄光催化降解水中有机污染物的相关研究进展，探讨其作为光催化剂在可见光条件下降解有机污染物的相关机理。最后，提出目前g-C₃N₄基复合材料在光催化降解水中有机污染物中所面临的挑战，旨在为非金属掺杂g-C₃...     

Ultraviolet Photoelectron Spectra of Potassium Dosed Higher Fullerenes

Abstract

Ultraviolet photoelectron spectra of potassium dosed higher fullerenes are measured with a synchrotron radiation light source. Potassium dosing to higher fullerenes brings a new structure between the spectral onset of pristine fullerenes and the Fermi level. As the spectral edge of the new structure does not cross the Fermi level, potassium dosed higher fullerenes are not metallic but semiconductive. When the potassium is excessively dosed to the fullerenes, the lower binding energy structures above 5 eV become faint. In contrast to this phenomenon, four distinct structures appear between 5 and 14 eV.     

Engineering Lithium Ions Embedded in NiFe Layered Double Hydroxide Lattices To Activate Laminated Ni2+ Sites as High-Efficiency Oxygen Evolution Reaction Catalysts

NiFe layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have been denoted as benchmark non-noble-metal electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). However, for laminates of NiFe LDHs, the edge sites are active, but the basal plane is inert, leading to underutilization as catalysts for the OER. Herein, for the first time, light and electron-deficient Li ions are intercalated into the basal plane of NiFe LDHs. The results of theoretical calculations and experiments both showed that electrons would be transferred from near Ni²⁺ to the surroundings of Li⁺, resulting in electron-deficient properties of the Ni sites, which would function as “electron-hungry” sites, to enhance surface adsorption of electron-rich oxygen-containing groups, which would enhance the effective activity for the OER. As demonstrated by the catalytic performance, the Li−NiFe LDH electrodes showed an ultralow overpotential of only 298 mV at 50 mA cm⁻², which was lower than that of 347 mV for initial NiFe LDHs and lower than that of 373 mV for RuO₂. Reasonable intercalation adjustment effectively activates laminated Ni²⁺ sites and constructs the electron-deficient structure to enhance its electrocatalytic activity, which sheds light on the functional treatment of catalytic materials.