Visible‐Light‐Active Elemental Photocatalysts

Seeking visible‐light‐active photocatalysts for efficient solar‐energy conversion has become an intensifying endeavor worldwide. In this concept paper, general requirements for finding new visible‐light‐active photocatalysts are briefly introduced, and recent progress in exploring elemental photocatalysts for clean‐energy generation and environmental remediation are reviewed. Finally, opportunities and challenges facing elemental photocatalysts are discussed.     

Zeeman双频激光器频率分裂与纵模间隔变动一致性分析

激光谐振腔内相位各向异性会引起频率分裂,两分裂模的频差大小由表现出的相位延迟所决定.对于腔内相位延迟较小的He-Ne激光器,两分裂模很接近,处于烧孔重叠区,存在模式竞争而不能同时振荡,形成隐频率分裂.同时,使得激光器两正交偏振方向上的相邻级纵模产生固定的变动量,其大小等于隐频率分裂量的2倍.如果沿激光偏振方向施加横向磁场,Ne原子谱线发生横向Zeeman分裂,增益原子分成两群,分别为平行于磁场和垂直于磁场方向偏振的光提供增益,大大减弱模竞争,使得激光器的两分裂模可同时振荡并测得频差.在谐振腔内放入倾斜的石英晶体片或半波片,由两种方法分别测量频率分裂量并进行比较.实验表明两种方法测量的结果均与理论计算相符,平均相对偏差不超过1%.据此可以准确得到Zeeman双频激光器的频差大小,并为半波片测量提供了新方法.     

Tunable optomechanically induced transparency and fast–slow light in a loop-coupled optomechanical system

We theoretically explore the tunability of optomechanically induced transparency(OMIT) phenomenon and fast–slow light effect in a loop-coupled hybrid optomechanical system in which two optical modes are coupled to a common mechanical mode. In the probe output spectrum, we find that the interference phenomena OMIT caused by the optomechanical interactions and the normal mode splitting(NMS) induced by the strong tunnel coupling between the cavities can be observed. We further observe that the tunnel interaction will affect the distance and the heights of the sideband absorption peaks. The results also show that the switch from absorption to amplification can be realized by tuning the driving strength because of the existence of stability condition. Except from modulating the tunnel interaction, the conversion between slow light and fast light also can be achieved by adjusting the optomechanical interaction in the output field. This study may provide a potential application in the fields of high precision measurement and quantum information processing.     

Synergism of Interface and Electronic Effects: Bifunctional N-Doped Ni3S2/N-Doped MoS2 Hetero-Nanowires for Efficient Electrocatalytic Overall Water Splitting

The realization of water electrolysis on the basis of highly active, cost-effective electrocatalysts is significant yet challenging for achieving sustainable hydrogen production from water. Herein, N-doped Ni₃S₂/N-doped MoS₂ 1D hetero-nanowires supported by Ni foam (N-Ni₃S₂/N-MoS₂/NF) are readily synthesized through a chemical transformation strategy by using NiMoO₄ nanowire array growth on Ni foam (NiMoO₄/NF) as the starting material. With the in situ generation of Ni₃S₂/MoS₂ heterointerfaces within nanowires and the incorporation of N⁻ anions, an extraordinary hydrophilic nature with abundant, well-exposed active sites and optimal reaction dynamics for both oxidation and reduction of water are obtained. Attributed to these properties, as-converted N-Ni₃S₂/N-MoS₂/NF exhibits highly efficient electrocatalytic activities for both hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions under alkaline conditions. The superior bifunctional properties of N-Ni₃S₂/N-MoS₂/NF enable it to effectively catalyze the overall water-splitting reaction.     

Multimetallic Oxynitrides Nanoparticles for a New Generation of Photocatalysts

A versatile synthetic strategy for the preparation of multimetallic oxynitrides has been designed and here exemplarily discussed considering the preparation of nanoscaled zinc–gallium oxynitrides and zinc–gallium–indium oxynitrides, two important photocatalysts of new generation, which proved to be active in key energy related processes from pollutant decomposition to overall water splitting. The synthesis presented here allows the preparation of small nanoparticles (less than 20 nm in average diameter), well-defined in size and shape, yet highly crystalline and with the highest surface area reported so far (up to 80 m² g⁻¹). X-ray diffraction studies show that the final material is not a mixture of single oxides but a distinctive compound. The photocatalytic properties of the oxynitrides have been tested towards the decomposition of an organic dye (as a model reaction for the decomposition of air pollutants), showing better photocatalytic performances than the corresponding pure phases (reaction constant 0.22 h⁻¹), whereas almost no reaction was observed in absence of catalyst or in the dark. The photocatalysts have been also tested for H₂ evolution (semi-reaction of the water splitting process) with results comparable to the best literature values but leaving room for further improvement.     

Recent Progress on Nickel-Based Oxide/(Oxy)Hydroxide Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Developing clean and sustainable energies as alternatives to fossil fuels is in strong demand within modern society. The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is the efficiency-limiting process in plenty of key renewable energy systems, such as electrochemical water splitting and rechargeable metal–air batteries. In this regard, ongoing efforts have been devoted to seeking high-performance electrocatalysts for enhanced energy conversion efficiency. Apart from traditional precious-metal-based catalysts, nickel-based compounds are the most promising earth-abundant OER catalysts, attracting ever-increasing interest due to high activity and stability. In this review, the recent progress on nickel-based oxide and (oxy)hydroxide composites for water oxidation catalysis in terms of materials design/synthesis and electrochemical performance is summarized. Some underlying mechanisms to profoundly understand the catalytic active sites are also highlighted. In addition, the future research trends and perspectives on the development of Ni-based OER electrocatalysts are discussed.     

Diffeomorphisms with C 1-stably average shadowing

Let M be a closed smooth manifold M, and let f : M → M be a diffeomorphism. In this paper, we consider a nontrivial transitive set Λ of f . We show that if f has the C1-stably average shadowing property on Λ, then Λ admits a dominated splitting.     

Molecular Constants of the NbN Molecule

Absorption spectrum of NbN has been obtained in the 560–670 nm region by intracavity laser spectroscopy. Vibrational and rotational analyses of ³φ - ³Δ transition has been caried out. Molecular constants for the upper (³φ) and ground (³Δ) states have been determined.     

Dependence of Spin-orbit Parameters in Al_xGa_(1-x)N/GaN Quantum Wells on the Al Composition of the Barrier

In this paper, we obtain considerable spin-orbit (SO) parameters in AlxGa1-xN/GaN quantum wells (QWs) with sheet carrier concentration Ns=120×1011/cm2 . With increasing Al content (x) of the barrier, the SO parameters increase as a whole, and the two major contributions are found to be the decrease of the expansion region of the envelope functions and the increase of the polarized electric field in the well. Compared with the Rashba parameters for the first two subbands, the intersubband SO parameter is a bit smaller and varies more slowly with x. The results indicate the SO parameters, especially the Rashba parameters can be engineered by the Al composition of the barrier, which may be helpful to the spin manipulation of III-nitride low-dimensional heterostructures.