Nanoforest-like CdS/TiO_2 heterostructure composites:Synthesis and photoelectrochemical application

In this study, TiO_2 nanoforest films consisting of nanotubes have been synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method and a subsequent sintering technique. The hydrothermal reaction time is important for the controlling of the nanotube diameter and the specific surface area of holistic TiO_2 films. When the hydrothermal process reaction time is up to 8 hours,the diameter of the nanotube is about 10 nm, and the specific surface area of TiO_2 nanoforest films reaches the maximum.CdS nanoparticles are synthesized on TiO_2 nanoforest films by the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction(SILAR)technique. The transmission electron microscope(TEM) and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy(EDX) mapping results verify that TiO_2/CdS heterostructures are realized. A significant red-shift of the absorption edge from 380 nm to 540 nm can be observed after the pure TiO_2 film is sensitized by CdS nanoparticles. Under irradiation of light, the current density of the optimal TiO_2/CdS photoanode is 2.30 mA·cm-2 at 0 V relative to the saturated calomel electrode(SCE), which is 6 times stronger than that of the pure TiO_2 photoanode. This study suggests that the TiO_2 nanoforest consisting of interlinked pony-size nanotubes is a promising nanostructure for photoelectrochemical.     

Enhanced ionization of vibrational hot carbon disulfide molecules in strong femtosecond laser fields

By using a heated molecular beam in combination with a time-of-flight mass spectrometer, we experimentally study the ionization of vibrational-hot carbon disulfide(CS_2) molecules irradiated by a linearly polarized 800-nm 50-fs strong laser field. The ion yields are measured in a laser intensity range of 7.0 × 10~(12) W/cm~2–1.5 × 10~(14) W/cm~2 at different molecular temperatures of up to 1400 K. Enhanced ionization yield is observed for vibrationally excited CS_2 molecules.The results show that the enhancement decreases as the laser intensity increases, and exhibits non-monotonical dependence on the molecular temperature. According to the calculated potential energy curves of the neutral and ionic electronic states of CS_2, as well as the theoretical models of molecular strong-field ionization available in the literature, we discuss the mechanism of the enhanced ionization of vibrational-hot molecules. It is indicated that the enhanced ionization could be attributed to both the reduced ionization potential with vibrational excitation and the Frank–Condon factors between the neutral and ionic electronic states. Our study paves the way to understanding the effect of nuclear motion on the strongfield ionization of molecules, which would give a further insight into theoretical and experimental investigations on the interaction of polyatomic molecules with strong laser fields.