Exciton multiplication and relaxation dynamics in quantum dots: applications to ultrahigh-efficiency solar photon conversion

Huge amounts of carbon-free energy will be required during the coming decades in order to stabilize atmospheric CO2 to acceptable levels. Solar energy is the largest source of non-carbonaceous energy and can be used to produce both electricity and fuel. However, the ratio of the areal cost to the conversion efficiency for devices converting solar photons to electricity or fuel must be reduced by at least 1 order of magnitude from the present values; this requires large increases in the cell efficiency and large reductions in the cost per unit area. We have shown how semiconductor quantum dots may greatly increase photon conversion efficiencies by producing multiple excitons from a single photon. This is possible because quantization of energy levels in quantum dots slows the cooling of hot excitons, promotes multiple exciton generation, and lowers the photon energy threshold for this process. Quantum yields of 300% for exciton formation in PbSe quantum dots have been reported at photon energies 3.8 times the HOMO-LUMO transition energy, indicating the formation of three excitons/photon for all photoexcited quantum dots. Similar high quantum yields have also been reported for PbS quantum dots. A new model for this effect that is based on a coherent superposition of multiple excitonic states has been proposed.     

染料敏化太阳能电池中的敏化剂

染料敏化太阳能电池（DSSC）是一种新型的太阳能电池。染料敏化剂的性能对DSSC的光电转换效率有重要的影响,要获得高的光电转换效率需要有高效、稳定的染料敏化剂。本文介绍了近年来染料敏化剂的设计合成,并讨论了各种敏化剂的优缺点及发展方向。     

Development of a new fluorescence decay measurement system using two-dimensional single-photon counting

A new fluorescence decay measurement system has been developed. The system consists of a spectrograph and a new two-dimensional photon counter. The combination enables measurements to be made of the fluorescence decay as a function of time and wavelength simultaneously. The time resolution is better than 5 ps with deconvolution processing, and the wavelength resolution is approximately 0.15 nm with 1200 grooves mm⁻¹ gratings. The dynamic range is 10⁵. The instrument response function (IRF) of the system is nearly gaussian, and has no tail or “after pulses” which are commonly observed using a photomultiplier in a time-correlated photon counting (TCPC) system. Therefore fast fluorescence decay of several tens of picoseconds can be measured accurately. In addition, the two-dimensional single-photon counting can be performed without wavelength scanning, so that the wavelength-dependent fluorescence decay can be easily and direcly observed with a fast throughput and a high signal-to-noise ratio. The principle of two-dimensional photon counting is discussed together with characteristics including linearity and statistical behavior.     

纳米尺度TiO2聚苯胺多孔膜电极光电化学研究

用光电流作用谱，光电流－电势图等光电化学方法研究了ＴｉＯ２／聚本胺复合多孔膜电极在不含氧化还原和含有没氧化还原对体系中的光电转换过程。结果说明，ＴｉＯ２／聚苯胺复合多孔膜电极为双层ｍ－型半导体结构，ＴｉＯ２多孔膜的禁带宽度为３．２ｅＶ，外层聚苯胺膜的禁带宽度为２．８８ｅＶ。     

DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE OF THE OKAZAKI LARGE SPECTROGRAPH FOR PHOTOBIOLOGICAL RESEARCH

A computer-operated spectrograph was recently built at Okazaki, Japan. Different specimens can be placed on a horseshoe-shaped focal curve (10 m long) covering a wavelength range of 250 to 1000 nm so they can be irradiated simultaneously. The linear dispersion is about 0.8 nm/cm. The photon fluence rate on the focal curve is 5 x 10¹⁵. photons x cm^-2 x s^-1 at 300nm and 1 x 10¹⁶ photons x cm^-2 x s^-1 at 600 and at 900 nm. The spectral half width is 5.5 nm or less on the focal curve. The stray light content is about 10^-5 of the main peak at the peak wavelength ± 100 nm. Specimens are set in microcomputer-controlled threshold boxes so that wavelengths, photon fluence rates, photon fluences and timing of irradiations are controlled automatically according to a pre-programmed schedule. An optical fiber system is also provided for remote irradiations.     

Photochemistry of vinyl chloride physisorbed on Ag(111) through molecular anion formation induced by substrate electron attachment

Pulsed 266 and 355 nm ultraviolet laser irradiation of monolayer vinyl chloride physisorbed on Ag(111) results in molecular dissociation leading to C2H3 and Cl, much of which is adsorbed to the surface. On the basis of observations made on dissociation dependences on chlorine isotope and photon energy, it is deduced that upon excitation vinyl chloride forms a transient negative ion through a substrate mediated, vertical electron attachment mechanism. The anion either dissociates or relaxes through energy transfer to the neutral state causing the neutral molecule to desorb. The threshold for vertical attachment of substrate electron is estimated to be 0.8 eV below the vacuum level, in agreement with the experimentally observed wavelength dependence in photoinduced dissociation. Chemisorbed Cl on the Ag(111) surface inhibits the photodissociation process by increasing the substrate work function and consequently the energy threshold for electron vertical attachment. Upon heating the Ag(111) surface, adsorbed vinyl combines to produce 1,3-butadiene in a first order, diffusion limited, process with an activation energy of 10.4 kcal/mol.     

提高氧化铁光电催化分解水效率的策略进展

为了解决能源危机与环境污染问题,发展一种可再生的清洁能源至关重要.太阳能是一种取之不尽用之不竭的清洁能源,而氢气是一种良好的能源载体.利用太阳能光电催化水分解制氢,是一项有望能够解决能源与环境问题的技术,具有很大的应用前景.其中,氧化铁因为具有合适的能带位置与带隙、良好的稳定性与廉价无毒等优点,成为一种理想的光阳极材料...     

Solution‐Processed Bulk‐Heterojunction Photovoltaic Cells Based on Dendritic and Star‐Shaped D‐π‐A Organic Dyes

A series of D ‐π‐A organic dendritic and star‐shaped molecules based on three various chromophores (i.e., the truxene nodes, triphenylamine moieties as the donor, and benzothiadiazole chromophore as the acceptor) and their corresponding model compounds are facilely developed. Their photophysical and electrochemical properties are investigated in detail by UV/Vis absorption and photoluminescent spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. By changing the various conjugated spacers (i.e., single bond, double bond, and triple bond) among the three chromophores of dendritic series, their photophysical properties (that is, the one‐photon absorption range and two‐photon absorption cross‐section values) are effectively modulated. All D ‐π‐A conjugated oligomers show a broad and strong absorption band from 250 to 700 nm in thin films. Solution‐processed bulk‐heterojunction photovoltaic devices using our oligomer as donor and PCBM as acceptor are fabricated and measured. The power conversion efficiency of the devices based on our oligomers continuously increases from DBTTr to TRTD2A as a result of an increasing relative absorption intensity in longer wavelength region by changing the donor‐acceptor ratio and conjugated spacers between the donor and acceptor. The power conversion efficiency of the devices based on TRTD2A was 0.54 % under the illumination of AM 1.5 and 100 mW cm^?2, which is the highest value recorded based on D ‐π‐A conjugated oligomers containing triphenylamine moieties and benzothiadiazole chromophores with truxene to date.     

Photon-by-photon determination of emission bursts from diffusing single chromophores

One of the difficulties in diffusion-type single-molecule experiments is the determination of signal amid photon-counting noise. A commonly used approach is to further average the noisy time trace by binning, followed by placing a threshold to discriminate signal from background. The choice of smoothing parameters and the placement of the threshold may impact on the efficiency with which the information-rich region can be harvested, among other potential complications. Here we introduce a procedure that operates on the data sequence photon by photon, thereby relieving the incertitude in choosing binning-thresholding parameters. We characterize this procedure by detecting the two-photon emission bursts from diffusing single gold nanoparticles. The results support our burst-finding procedure as a reliable and efficient way of detecting and harvesting photon bursts from diffusing experiments.     

LD激发的ZnWO4:Er3+晶体上转换发光

采用Czochralski法生长出ZnWO₄:Er³⁺(Er=0.02mol)单晶,测量了吸收光谱和激发光谱。在波长966nm功率500mW的激光二极管(LD)激发下观察到上转换发光。强度最大的发射峰位于547和558nm,发射光谱分析表明,上转换激发过程与双光子步进吸收有关。     

Photo ejection of water molecules from amorphous ice films

Water molecules are photo-ejected upon laser irradiation from the surface of ice films grown on graphite (0001) and Pt(111). The films are deposited at temperatures between 40 and 140 K and irradiated with nanosecond laser pulses. The process is investigated in the wavelength range between 275 and 670 nm. The wavelength and photon flux dependence suggest a multi-photon process with energy threshold of around 9 eV. The photo-detachment is less effective or negligible from films annealed at temperatures above the amorphous-crystalline transition temperature of ice films. Coverage dependence of the phenomena relates the photo yield to surface roughness. Electronic excitation mechanism related to the defects in ice is proposed to explain the observations.     

THE MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS *

Within the ideal assumptions: (1) two Photosystems for photosynthetic fixation of CO₂, (2) all solar photons with Λ≥ 700 nm are absorbed, (3) the photon requirement is 8 for each CO₂ molecule fixed and O₂ molecule evolved and (4) the principal stable product of photosynthesis is d-glucose, the theoretical maximum efficiency of conversion of light to stored chemical energy in green-plant type (oxygen-evolving) photosynthesis in bright sunlight is calculated to be 13.0%. Thermodynamic arguments are presented which indicate that a photosynthetic system with one Photosystem would be highly unlikely to be able to drive each electron from water to evolve O₂ and reduce CO₂. The practical maximum efficiency of photosynthesis under optimum conditions is estimated to be 8–9%.     

室温光驱动甲烷活化

如何在较温和的条件下将甲烷转化为其它更有价值的有机衍生物,如醇、芳烃、长链烷烃和烯烃等,长期以来是催化、化学及化工领域的热点课题和难点课题之一。为了提高甲烷的转化效率,过去几十年里,研究人员不断开发新的催化剂和新的反应路径。与传统高温热催化方法相比,如果能利用自然界中丰富的太阳能驱动甲烷转化,将同时满足能源和环保两方面的要求,是各种新型非常规策略中比较令人期待的一种。本文从光催化材料的组成、结构及催化路线、催化机制等方面进行总结,对当前室温光活化甲烷分子的研究现状加以论述。     

Electrical Approach of Homogenous High Pressure Ne/Xe/HCl Dielectric Barrier Discharge for XeCl (308 nm) Lamp

This paper reports the investigation of the excimer UV emission efficiency in Ne/Xe/HCl mixture in terms of the homogenous model of a dielectric barrier discharge. The computer model developed is based on the Ne/Xe/HCl gas mixture chemistry, the circuit and the Boltzmann equations. The effects of operating voltage, HCl concentration in the mixture as well as gas pressure on the discharge efficiency and the 172, and 308 nm photon generation, under typical experimental operating conditions, have been investigated and discussed. Calculations suggest that the overall conversion efficiency from electrical energy to VUV emission in the lamp is greater than 27%, and it will be very affected at high voltage amplitude and high gas pressure with a significant dependence on the HCl concentration in the gas mixture.     

Photophysics and electrochemistry relevant to photocatalytic water splitting involved at solid–electrolyte interfaces

Direct photon to chemical energy conversion using semiconductor–electrocatalyst–electrolyte interfaces has been extensively investigated for more than a half century. Many studies have focused on screening materials for efficient photocatalysis. Photocatalytic efficiency has been improved during this period but is not sufficient for industrial commercialization. Detailed elucidation on the photocatalytic water splitting process leads to consecutive six reaction steps with the fundamental parameters involved: The photocatalysis is initiated involving photophysics derived from various semiconductor properties(1: photon absorption, 2: exciton separation). The generated charge carriers need to be transferred to surfaces effectively utilizing the interfaces(3: carrier diffusion, 4: carrier transport). Consequently, electrocatalysis finishes the process by producing products on the surface(5: catalytic efficiency, 6: mass transfer of reactants and products). Successful photocatalytic water splitting requires the enhancement of efficiency at each stage. Most critically, a fundamental understanding of the interfacial phenomena is highly desired for establishing "photocatalysis by design" concepts, where the kinetic bottleneck within a process is identified by further improving the specific properties of photocatalytic materials as opposed to blind material screening. Theoretical modeling using the identified quantitative parameters can effectively predict the theoretically attainable photon-conversion yields. This article provides an overview of the state-of-the-art theoretical understanding of interfacial problems mainly developed in our laboratory.Photocatalytic water splitting(especially hydrogen evolution on metal surfaces) was selected as a topic,and the photophysical and electrochemical processes that occur at semiconductor–metal, semiconductor–electrolyte and metal–electrolyte interfaces are discussed.     

Low‐Threshold Wavelength‐Switchable Organic Nanowire Lasers Based on Excited‐State Intramolecular Proton Transfer

Coherent light signals generated at the nanoscale are crucial to the realization of photonic integrated circuits. Self‐assembled nanowires from organic dyes can provide both a gain medium and an effective resonant cavity, which have been utilized for fulfilling miniaturized lasers. Excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT), a classical molecular photoisomerization process, can be used to build a typical four‐level system, which is more favorable for population inversion. Low‐power driven lasing in proton‐transfer molecular nanowires with an optimized ESIPT energy‐level process has been achieved. With high gain and low loss from the ESIPT, the wires can be applied as effective FP‐type resonators, which generated single‐mode lasing with a very low threshold. The lasing wavelength can be reversibly switched based on a conformation conversion of the excited keto form in the ESIPT process.     

Effects of Solid Acid Supports on the Bifunctional Catalysis of Levulinic Acid to γ‐Valerolactone: Catalytic Activity and Stability

Heterogeneous transformation of levulinic acid (LA) to γ‐valerolactone (GVL) is regarded as a critical process of the lignocellulose‐based biorefinery system. Substantial progress on the catalytic conversion of LA to GVL has been continuously achieved recently. However, the traditional research paradigm typically emphasizes the metal‐catalyzed hydrogenation step, but lacks profound insights into the potential impacts of catalyst supports. Herein, an overview of the bifunctional catalytic system classified by representative solid acid supports for LA conversion to GVL is presented, and effects of critical factors on metal‐ and acid‐ catalyzed processes are discussed. Particularly, impacts of key issues on catalytic stability are thoroughly summarized and analyzed. Challenges and suggestions are also proposed from the perspective of increases in both catalytic activity and stability. This review potentially contributes to the rational design of high‐efficiency catalysts used in the biomass valorization for renewable energy production.     

Synthesis and Photovoltaic Properties of Boron β‐Ketoiminate Dyes Forming a Linear Donor‐π‐Acceptor Structure

Organoboron complexes are of interest as chromophores for dye sensitizers owing to their light‐harvesting and carrier‐transporting properties. In this study, compounds containing boron β‐ketoiminate (BKI) as a chromophore were synthesized and used as dye sensitizers in dye‐sensitized solar cells. The new dyes were orange or red crystals and showed maximum absorptions in the 410–450 nm wavelength region on titanium dioxide substrates. These electrodes exhibited maximum efficiencies of over 80% in incident photon‐to‐current conversion efficiency spectra, suggesting that the continuous process of light absorption‐excitation‐electron injection was effectively performed. Open‐circuit photovoltages were relatively high owing to the large dipole moments of the BKI dyes with a linear molecular structure. Thus, a maximum power conversion efficiency of 5.3% was successfully observed. Comparison of BKI dyes with boron β‐diketonate dyes revealed certain differences in solution stability, spectral properties, and photovoltaic characteristics.