Plasmonic photoelectrochemical reactions on noble metal electrodes of nanostructures

Plasmonic noble metal nanostructures have been targeted due to their strong surface plasmon resonance at photoelectrochemical interfaces. Recently, it has been concluded that, the plasmonic noble metal nanostructures on photoexcitation permit the transfer of effective hot carriers (hot electron/hole pair) to nearby adsorbed molecules where, the transformed hot carriers can efficiently decrease the activation barrier of a reaction. In this review, our recent achievements in the plasmon-mediated chemical reactions of organic molecules such as para-aminothiophenol, substituted para-aminothiophenol and para-nitrothiophenol at nanostructures modified noble metal electrodes using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy, electrochemical methods, and theoretical calculations will be discussed.     

SnO2表面卤化提高钙钛矿太阳能电池光伏性能

钙钛矿太阳能电池(PSCs)成为近几年来迅速发展的新型太阳能电池,其中将SnO₂纳米粒子层用作电子传输层(ETL)的钙钛矿太阳能电池器件得到了广泛的关注。SnO₂有着更低的制备温度,使其具备应用于柔性器件的潜力,但与钙钛矿层能级不匹配等问题限制着其发展。而在界面处加入钝化层,尤其是表面卤化的方法或可解决这一问题。本文综合研究了SnO₂表面卤化对钙钛矿太阳能电池光伏性能的影响,选用四丁基氯化铵(TBAC)、四丁基溴化铵(TBAB)和四丁基碘化铵(TBAI)三种钝化材料对SnO₂表面进行钝化处理,并对钝化材料溶液进行了浓度梯度研究。通过材料形貌、结构和光学性能表征以及电池器件性能测试分析等方法,证明了SnO₂表面卤化可提高钙钛矿层的质量和PSCs光伏性能,并从器件内部电荷传输动力学等角度解释了器件性能改善的原因。为进一步说明其性能改善的机理,采用基于密度泛函理论(DFT)的第一性原理计算方法对材料表面性质进行了深入研究,从能量、结构、电荷密度、态密度、功函数等角度解释了表面卤化提高SnO₂/钙钛矿界面处电子传输特性的原因。实验和理论计算均表明TBAC对于SnO₂具有较好的钝化效果,并随着溶液浓度的提升钝化作用越明显。SnO₂表面卤化作用的深入研究不仅对提高电池器件性能具有实际意义,还能够帮助理解太阳能电池界面现象,为界面改性提供新的研究思路。     

Role of MXene surface terminations in electrochemical energy storage: A review

MXenes are a group of recently discovered 2D materials and have attracted extensive attention since their first report in 2011; they have shown excellent prospects for energy storage applications owing to their unique layered microstructure and tunable electrical properties. One major feature of MXenes is their tailorable surface terminations (e.g., −F, −O, −OH). Numerous studies have indicated that the composition of the surface terminations can significantly impact the electrochemical properties of MXenes. Nonetheless, the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood, mainly because of the difficulties in quantitative analysis and characterization. This review summarizes the latest research progress on MXene terminations. First, a systematic introduction to the approaches for preparing MXenes is presented, which generally dominates the surface terminations. Then, theoretical and experimental efforts regarding the surface terminations are discussed, and the influence of surface terminations on the electronic and electrochemical properties of MXenes are generalized. Finally, we present the significance and research prospects of MXene terminations. We expect this review to encourage research on MXenes and provide guidance for usingthese materials for batteries and supercapacitors.     

Biocompatible NaYF4:Yb,Er upconversion nanoparticles: Colloidal stability and optical properties

Currently, highly luminescent colloidal upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have expanded an increasing interest of researchers because of their facilitating lability in the biomedical/clinical field. In this study, NaYF₄:Yb,Er UCNPs are prepared by eco-friendly metal complexation-based thermal decomposition method at a lower temperature in aqueous media. The phase structure, crystallinity, phase purity, morphology, colloidal dispersibility, surface structure, surface charge, and optical and luminescent properties were evaluated carefully by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDX), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), zeta potential, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), UV/visible and photoluminescent spectroscopic techniques. XRD pattern shows a pure single-phase cubic structure with an average grain size of 30–35 nm. TEM and SEM micrographs exhibited irregularly shaped spherical morphologies, porous surface structures highly aggregated UCNPs with the narrow-size distribution. Positive zeta potential has shown value signifying high absorption in the visible region which indicates particle's good colloidal stability in aqueous media. Under NIR-laser light excitation, the UCNPs emit strong UC emission transitions in the visible region. A broad infrared absorption peak of hydroxyl groups (–OH) in FTIR spectrum and mass loss at a lower temperature in TGA verified the surface functionality of UCNPs, with high colloidal stability, and excellent biocompatibility in aqueous media. In terms of their surface characteristics and high luminescent properties, the NaYF₄:Yb,Er UCNPs could be interestingly applied in tagging of biomolecules, drug delivery, proteins labeling, and therapeutic and thermostats applications.     

Changes in the physical properties of low bandgap polymer after interaction with ionic liquids

Over the past few years, polymers shown comprehensive utilization in optical devices, solar cells, sensors, and other such devices. However, the efficiency of these devices remains a problem. We have synthesized new thiophene based, lowband gap polymer, poly(2-heptadecyl-4-vinylthieno[3,4-d] [1,3] selenazole) (PHVTS) and investigated the interactions between the PHVTS and ionic liquids (ILs), in this study. We have used imidazolium- and ammonium-family ILs, and studied the interactions using various spectroscopic techniques such UV–visible, FTIR, and confocal Raman spectroscopies. Additionally, we studied surface morphology of the polymer-IL film. Spectroscopic studies show that both families of ILs can interact with the newly synthesized polymer poly(2-heptadecyl-4-vinylthieno[3,4-d] [1,3] selenazole). However, the imidazolium-family Ionic Liquid-polymer (IL-polymer) mixture films show higher conductivities than ammonium-family IL–polymer mixture films.     

The viability of SARS-CoV-2 on solid surfaces

The COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on life in 2020 and 2021. One method of transmission occurs when the causative virus, SARS-CoV-2, contaminates solids. Understanding and controlling the interaction with solids is thus potentially important for limiting the spread of the disease. We review work that describes the prevalence of the virus on common objects, the longevity of the virus on solids, and surface coatings that are designed to inactivate the virus. Engineered coatings have already succeeded in producing a large reduction in viral infectivity from surfaces. We also review work describing inactivation on facemasks and clothing and discuss probable mechanisms of inactivation of the virus at surfaces.     

Surface Functionalization of PEO Nanofibers Using a TiO2 Suspension as Sheath Fluid in a Modified Coaxial Electrospinning Process

Convenient and integration fabrication process is a key issue for the application of functional nanofibers. A surface functionalization method was developed based on coaxial electrospinning to produce ultraviolet(UV) protection nanofibers. The titanium dioxide(TiO₂) nanoparticles suspension was delivered through the shell channel of the coaxial spinneret, by which the aggregation of TiO₂ nanoparticles was overcome and the distribution uniformity on the surface of polyethylene oxide(PEO) nanofiber was obtained. With the content of TiO₂ increasing from 0 to 3%(mass fraction), the average diameter of nanofibers increased from (380±30) nm to (480±100) nm. The surface functionalization can be realized during the electrospinning process to gain PEO/TiO₂ composite nanofibers directly. The uniform distribution of TiO₂ nanoparticles on the surface of nanofibers enhanced the UV absorption and resistance performance. The maximum UV protection factor(UPF) value of composite nanofibers reaches 2751. This work presented a novel surface-functionalized way for the preparation of composite nanofiber, which has great application potential in the field of micro/nano system integration fabrication.     

基于单宁酸的功能材料研究进展

单宁酸(Tannic acid,TA)是一种天然植物多元酚,广泛分布于各类植物的根、茎、叶及果实中,具有价格低廉、来源广泛、生物相容性好等特点。单宁酸分子内含有大量酚羟基和酯基活性官能团,具有高化学反应活性。由于其特殊的分子结构——大量疏水芳香环和亲水酚羟基的存在,单宁酸还易与各种分子或基团形成氢键、静电、疏水和π-π堆叠等多种相互作用,在功能材料领域应用广泛。本文总结了近年来单宁酸在功能材料领域应用的研究进展,其中主要包括贵金属纳米材料制备、表界面功能化改性、功能微胶囊构筑和自组装材料制备等,并对基于单宁酸功能材料的研究前景进行了展望。     

PDMS-Au复合基底上多环芳烃分子的表面增强拉曼光谱

利用聚二甲基硅氧烷(PDMS)对有机物的富集功能,通过在金纳米粒子单层膜(Au MLF)表面旋涂薄层PDMS膜制备PDMS-Au MLF复合表面增强拉曼光谱(SERS)基底.研究了SERS增强性能与旋涂液浓度及稀释溶剂间的关系,考察了复合基底增强活性的均匀性.研究发现,采用叔丁醇为稀释溶剂,浓度为2%(质量分数)的旋涂液时所得复合基底表面多环芳烃(PAHs)的SERS信号强度最高,且此基底SERS信号强度偏差小于10%.分别以PDMS-Au MLF复合材料和Au MLF作为基底,对比研究了对萘、蒽、菲和芘4种多环芳烃的SERS检测能力.结果表明,PDMS-Au MLF复合基底对以上4种有机物的检出限分别为10~(-6),10~(-7),10~(-8)及10~(-7)mol/L,相比于单一Au MLF基底,其检测限至少降低了1个数量级,这主要源自于PDMS对PAHs的富集作用,且此类复合基底可用于多种多环芳烃混合物的特征识别.     

石榴状单质铋(Bi)球与g-C3N4复合材料表现出超强可见光氧化NO性能

采用一种原位合成工艺制备了具有类石榴结构的金属铋(Bi)单质修饰的g-C3N4复合材料(Bi-CN),并用于可见光氧化NO反应中.金属Bi单质镶嵌在CN层间形成的复合物,由于金属Bi单质显著的表面等离子体共振(SPR)作用可将光吸收范围由紫外光延展至近红外,极大地提高了复合物的光吸收.此外,由于Bi单质存在于复合物界面可产生内建莫特-肖特基效应,从而加快光生载流子的分离与转移.由此,Bi-CN复合物光催化剂展现出超强的光催化去除NO性能.我们提出了类石榴结构的形成以及相应的Bi-CN复合物光催化活性的提高机理.这不仅为高效的金属铋单质改性的g-C3N4基光催化剂提供了一种新的设计方案,也对g-C3N4基光催化的机制理解提出了新的见解.通过X射线衍射、红外光谱和X射线光电子能谱结果发现Bi是以金属单质的形式存在于Bi-CN复合物中,这得益于我们采用了二水合铋酸钠(NaBiO3·2H2O)作为铋前驱体,从而成功避免了氧化态铋的形成.Bi-CN复合物中金属铋单质的存在有诸多优点.首先,金属铋单质具有显著的表面SPR效应,它的引入可大大提高复合物的光吸收能力和太阳光利用率.有研究表明,直径为150–200 nm的铋球能够在紫外-可见漫反射图谱(UV-vis)在λ=500 nm处呈现出典型的SPR峰,但本样品在λ=200–800 nm区间内并未发现该SPR峰.由于铋单质的共振受限于其尺寸大小、颗粒形状和构造环境.本文中球形铋单质的直径约为1μm,其可能发生共振效应的峰位置应超过800 nm,因此未发现相应的SPR峰.其次,金属铋单质分散在CN层表面上构建的肖特基垫垒能够高效地阻止光生电子与空穴的复合,促进了光生载流子的分离与转移,从而提高光氧化NO进程.再者,金属铋单质的介入成功构造了Bi-CN异质结,在可见光照射下NO氧化反应中,Bi-CN复合物活性显著高于CN(22.2%)、CN-EG(36.4%)和Bi(14.1%),其中以10%Bi-CN活性最佳,NO去除率到70.4%,远远超过K插层的g-C3N4、Ag掺杂的g-C3N4和氧化石墨烯修饰的g-C3N4.当复合物中金属铋单质含量超过10%时,其活性明显下降.这是因为大量的金属铋单质积聚在Bi-CN复合物表面上而造成物理堵塞,妨碍了CN吸收可见光,从而降低了其可见光吸收能力;同时导致只会吸收更多的紫外光(λ<280 nm)而不是可见光,因而其可见光催化氧化NO能力下降.