CdTe electrodeposition on InP(100) via electrochemical atomic layer epitaxy (EC-ALE): studies using UHV-EC

The II-VI compound semiconductor CdTe was electrodeposited on InP(100) surfaces using electrochemical atomic layer epitaxy (EC-ALE). CdTe was deposited on a Te-modified InP(100) surface using this atomic layer by atomic layer methodology. The deposit started with formation of an atomic layer of Te on the InP(100) surface, as Cd was observed not to form an underpotential deposition (UPD) layer on InP(100), although it was found to UPD on Te atomic layers. On the In-terminated 'clean' InP(100) surface, Te was deposited at -0.80 V from a 0.1 mM solution of TeO2, resulting in formation of a Te atomic layer and some small amount of bulk Te. The excess bulk Te was then removed by reduction in blank solution at -0.90 V, leaving a Te atomic layer. Given the presences of the Te atomic layer, it was then possible to form an atomic layer of Cd by UPD at -0.58 V to complete the formation of a CdTe monolayer by EC-ALE. That cycle was then repeated to demonstrate the applicability of the cycle to the formation of CdTe nanofilms. Auger spectra recorded after the first three cycles of CdTe deposition on InP(100) were consistent with the layer-by-layer CdTe growth. It is interesting to note that Cd did not form a UPD deposit on the In-terminated InP(100) surface and only formed Cd clusters at an overpotential. This issue is probably related to the inability of the Cd and In to form a stable surface compound.     

CO oxidation on inverse CeO(x)/Cu(111) catalysts: high catalytic activity and ceria-promoted dissociation of O2

A Cu(111) surface displays a low activity for the oxidation of carbon monoxide (2CO + O(2) → 2CO(2)). Depending on the temperature, background pressure of O(2), and the exposure time, one can get chemisorbed O on Cu(111) or a layer of Cu(2)O that may be deficient in oxygen. The addition of ceria nanoparticles (NPs) to Cu(111) substantially enhances interactions with the O(2) molecule and facilitates the oxidation of the copper substrate. In images of scanning tunneling microscopy, ceria NPs exhibit two overlapping honeycomb-type moire? structures, with the larger ones (H(1)) having a periodicity of 4.2 nm and the smaller ones (H(2)) having a periodicity of 1.20 nm. After annealing CeO(2)/Cu(111) in O(2) at elevated temperatures (600-700 K), a new phase of a Cu(2)O(1+x) surface oxide appears and propagates from the ceria NPs. The ceria is not only active for O(2) dissociation, but provides a much faster channel for oxidation than the step edges of Cu(111). Exposure to CO at 550-750 K led to a partial reduction of the ceria NPs and the removal of the copper oxide layer. The CeO(x)/Cu(111) systems have activities for the 2CO + O(2) → 2CO(2) reaction that are comparable or larger than those reported for surfaces of expensive noble metals such as Rh(111), Pd(110), and Pt(100). Density-functional calculations show that the supported ceria NPs are able to catalyze the oxidation of CO due to their special electronic and chemical properties. The configuration of the inverse oxide/metal catalyst opens new interesting routes for applications in catalysis.     

Stable structure and effects of sulfur in CdTe/CdS heterojunctions

Structural and electronic properties of S in the CdTe/CdS(0001) interface are studied using the density functional theory. The interstitial S atom may induce the inversion of the surface Cd atoms and sublayer Te atoms of the Cd‐terminated surface, while S atoms may adsorb at the top sites, substitute Te atoms or accumulate at the voids inside the Te‐terminated (111) CdTe surface. Isovalent substituting S for Te in the CdTe(111)/CdS(0001) heterojunctions can reduce the strain arising from lattice mismatch and cause a reduction of interface states, so it may be better for solar cells. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

One-pot synthesis of Cu1.94S-CdS and Cu1.94S-Zn(x)Cd(1-x)S nanodisk heterostructures

Nanodisk heterostructures consisting of monoclinic Cu(1.94)S and wurtzite CdS have been colloidally synthesized for the first time. Initially, hexagonal-shaped nanodisks of Cu(1.94)S were produced upon thermolysis of a copper complex in a solvent mixture of HDA and TOA at 250 °C. Rapid addition of Cd precursor to the reaction mixture resulted in the partial conversion of Cu(1.94)S into CdS, yielding Cu(1.94)S-CdS nanoheterostructures. The original morphology of the Cu(1.94)S nanodisks was conserved during the transformation. When Zn precursor was added together with the Cd precursor, Cu(1.94)S-Zn(x)Cd(1-x)S nanodisks were generated. These two-component nanostructures are potentially useful in the fabrication of heterojunction solar cells.     

Adsorption mode of cinchonidine on Cu(111) surface

The adsorption mode of cinchonidine on Cu(111) was directly obtained by in situ STM. The molecules were found to adsorb on the substrate surface and form a long-range ordered adlayer with (4 x 4) symmetry. While the quinoline rings lie parallel to Cu(111), the chiral quinuclidine moiety extends out of the surface. The enantioselectivity of catalysts may relate to this special adsorption conformation of cinchonidine on the surface.     

Nanoporous Pt@Au(x)Cu(100-x) by hydrogen evolution assisted electrodeposition of Au(x)Cu(100-x) and galvanic replacement of Cu with Pt: electrocatalytic properties

Electrodeposition of high-surface-area nanoporous Au-Cu foams under conditions of hydrogen codeposition is studied. The honeycomb-like Au(x)Cu(100-x) foams with 0 ≤ x ≤ 100 are electrodeposited by controlling the amount of corresponding ions in the solution. The amount of metal ions in deposited films follows that in used electrolytes. Compared to monometallic foams, the Au(x)Cu(100-x) structures are characterized by smaller ligament or particle sizes (less than 10 nm) and improved stability. The addition of even a small amount of Cu to the Au matrix is found to dramatically improve the stability of the structure in air environment or an acidic medium. Pt@Au(x)Cu(100-x) structures are formed by the galvanic displacement of Cu from Au(x)Cu(100-x) templates. During the displacement of Cu by Pt, Au serves as a buffer, decreasing mechanical stresses and preventing the detachment of the foam from the substrate. The surface ratio of Pt to Au atoms is controlled by adjusting the amount of Cu in the template. Pt@Au(x)Cu(100-x) electrodes are investigated as novel electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation in alkaline media. The Au-enriched surfaces show higher catalytic activity toward methanol oxidation, while the electrodes with a higher amount of Pt are more stable.     

Enantiospecific desorption of chiral compounds from chiral Cu(643) and achiral Cu(111) surfaces

Temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) experiments have been conducted to investigate enantiospecific desorption from chiral single-crystal surfaces. The (643) and (six four three) planes of face-centered cubic metals such as Cu have kinked and stepped structures which are nonsuperimposable mirror images of one another and therefore are chiral. These chiral surfaces are denoted Cu(643)(R) and Cu(643)(S). We have observed that the desorption energies of (R)-3-methylcyclohexanone and (R)- and (S)-propylene oxides from the Cu(643)(R) and Cu(643)(S) surfaces depend on the relative handedness of the adsorbate/substrate combination. Since the (643) surface is comprised of terraces with local (111) orientation which are separated by kinked monatomic steps, it is instructive to perform TPD experiments with these chiral compounds on the achiral Cu(111) surface. These experiments have given some insight into the adsorption sites for the chiral molecules on the Cu(643) surfaces. There are several high-temperature features in the TPD spectra of the chiral compounds that only appear in the spectra from the (643) surfaces and thus are attributed to molecules adsorbed at or near the kinked steps. In addition there are lower temperature desorption features observed on the Cu(643) surfaces which occur in the same temperature range as desorption features observed on the Cu(111) surface. These features observed on the (643) surfaces are attributed to desorption from the flat (111) terraces.     

Structure and bonding of alkanethiols on Cu(111) and Cu(100)

The local structure of the sulfur atom of methanethiolate and ethanethiolate on the Cu(111) and Cu(100) surfaces was investigated from first principles employing the periodic supercell approach in the framework of density functional theory. On the 111 surface, we investigated the (square root 3 x square root 3)R30 degrees and (2 x 2) structures, whereas on the 100 surface, we investigated the p(2 x 2) and c(2 x 2) structures. The landscape of the potential energy surface on each metal surface presents distinctive features that explain the local adsorption structure of thiolates found experimentally. On the Cu(111) surface, the energy difference between the hollow and bridge sites is only 3 kcal/mol, and consequently, adsorption sites ranging from the hollow to the bridge site were observed for increasing surface coverages. On the Cu(100) surface, there is a large energy difference of 12 kcal/mol between the hollow and bridge sites, and therefore, only the 4-fold coordination was observed. The high stabilization of thiolates on the hollow site of Cu(100) may be the driving force for the pseudosquare reconstruction observed experimentally on Cu(111). Density of states analysis and density difference plots were employed to characterize the bonding on different surface sites. Upon interaction with the metal d bands, the pi* orbital of methanethiolate splits into several peaks. The two most prominent peaks are located on either edge of the metal d band. They correspond to bonding and antibonding S-Cu interactions. In the case of ethanethiolate, all the back-bonds are affected by the surface bonding, leading to alternating regions of depletion and accumulation of charge in the successive bonds.     

Cux (x=1-4)团簇在CeO2(111)表面的吸附

用基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理方法研究了Cu团簇(Cu_x, x=1-4)在CeO₂(111)表面的吸附. 研究发现当团簇比较小时(x=2, 3), 倾向于平铺表面; 当x=4时, Cu团簇在CeO₂(111)表面以三维的四面体结构吸附较为稳定, 从Cu 3d到Ce 4f的电荷转移使Cu团簇带正电荷. 由二维的菱形结构到三维的四面体结构的转变势垒为1.05 eV, 并且其中一个Cu原子直接迁移到另外三个Cu原子的空位顶部的转变路径比较有利. 在Cu团簇与CeO₂的相互作用过程中, Cu-O和Cu-Cu相互作用的竞争最终决定了Cu团簇在CeO₂上的形貌. 这种CeO₂(111)负载的带正电的三维Cu团簇将对水分解, 进而对水煤气反应具有高的催化活性.     

Optical absorption and valence band photoemission from uncapped CdTe nanocrystals

CdTe nanocrystals have been successfully fabricated by a mechanical alloying process. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns demonstrate that a single-phase CdTe compound with a zinc blende structure has been formed after ball milling elemental Cd and Te mixture powders for 27 h. The large broadening effect for the width of the {111} diffraction peak of uncapped CdTe nanocrystals on smaller size was observed in slowly scanned XRD patterns. The X-ray photoelectron spectrum was used to study the surface of the uncapped CdTe nanocrystals within both core level and valence band regions. The presence of tellurium oxide film on the surface of the uncapped CdTe nanocrystals has been detected in the X-ray photoelectron spectrum of the Te 3d core level, which was comparable to the observed amorphous oxide thin layer on the surface of uncapped CdTe nanocrystals in a high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) image. The energy of the valence band maximum for uncapped CdTe powders blue shifts to the higher energy side with smaller particle sizes. In UV-visible optical absorption spectra of the suspension solution containing uncapped CdTe nanocrystals, the absorption peaks were locating within the ultraviolet region, which shifted toward the higher energy side with prolonged ball milling time. Both blue shifts of valence band maximum energy and absorption peaks with decreasing particle size provide a unique pathway to reveal the quantum confinement effect of uncapped CdTe nanocrystals.     

On the existence of ordered organic adlayers at the Cu(111)/electrolyte interface

We have reinvestigated the behavior of a Cu(111) electrode in pure and cinchonidine containing aqueous 0.1 M HClO4 solution by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and in situ electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). In contrast to previous publications by Wan et al. (Langmuir 2000, 19, 1958-1962 and references cited therein) on Cu(111) in pure 0.1 M HClO4 which claimed an adsorbate-free Cu(111) surface in the entire potential range, we have found a highly ordered hexagonal adsorbate structure with a (4 x 4) unit cell, which is stable in the potential range from hydrogen evolution at -350 to -150 mV (RHE). The adsorbate-free (1 x 1) Cu(111) surface is only visible in a fairly small potential range from -150 to +50 mV. A disordered surface structure is formed at more positive potentials which is interpreted by adsorption of an oxygen-containing species. Furthermore, the formation of a highly ordered cinchonidine adlayer on Cu(111) in 0.1 M HClO4 as reported by Wan et al. (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124, 14300-14301) could not be reproduced here. In fact, the similarity of all structures reported by Wan et al. for a great variety of different organic adlayers on Cu(111) in HClO4 solution including cinchonidine with the (4 x 4) superstructure found here already in pure HClO4 solution (i.e., without organic solute) casts serious doubts on the validity of those previous results by Wan et al. in general.     

Mesoscopic restructuring and mass transport of metal atoms during reduction of the Ag(111)-p(4x4)-O surface with CO

The reduction of the Ag(111)-p(4x4)-O surface oxide with CO was used to study the restructuring of the surface during reaction. Scanning tunneling microscopy images taken during the reaction show the formation of Ag islands and pits within the reacted areas surrounded by unreacted p(4x4)-O. The number of Ag adatoms incorporated in the Ag(111)-p(4x4)-O structure was determined to be 12 from the areas of these islands and pits. The evolution of the reacted area with exposure to CO indicates that direct reaction with the Ag(111)-p(4x4)-O is not preferred, but that the boundary between the p(4x4) and the freshly created Ag(111) surface is the source of the reactive oxygen.     

Direct STM investigation of cinchona alkaloid adsorption on Cu(III)

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) combined with cyclic voltammetry has been employed to investigate the adsorption of cinchonine on Cu(111). Similar to cinchonidine, cinchonine forms a long-range ordered adlayer with (4 x 4) symmetry on the substrate. The structural details on molecular adsorption were obtained by high-resolution STM images. On the basis of the previous results and obtained STM images, the quinoline ring is proposed to lie parallel to Cu(111) and serve as an anchoring group. The chiral quinuclidine moiety extends out of the surface to facilitate the interaction with the prochiral reactants.     

Water Formation for the Metalation of Porphyrin Molecules on Oxidized Cu(111)

Herein the formation of water molecules in the intermediate step of the redox reaction of porphyrins self‐metalation on O/Cu(111) is demonstrated. Photoemission measurements show that the temperature on which porphyrins pick‐up a substrate metal atom on O/Cu(111) is reduced by about 185±15 K with respect to the pure Cu(111). DFT calculations clearly indicate that the formation of a water molecule is less expensive than the formation of H₂ on the O/Cu(111) substrate and, in some cases, it can be also exothermic.     

Ab Initio simulations of nonstoichiometric Cd(x)Te(1-x) liquids

We present ab initio molecular-dynamics simulations for Cd(x)Te(1-x) liquids where the composition is nonstoichiometric. The simulations are performed following Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics. The required forces are obtained from a solution of the Kohn-Sham equation using ab initio pseudopotentials. We consider stoichiometries of the form: Cd(x)Te(1-x), where x=0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8. For each composition of the melt, we consider a range of temperatures near the experimentally determined liquid temperatures. We examine the microstructural properties of the melt, the viscosity, and self-diffusion properties of the liquid as a function of the stoichiometry and temperature. We also perform an analysis of the distribution of the electronic density of states in these liquids. We find that structural changes in the local order, experimentally predicted to occur when the concentration of Cd is increased, are closely related to changes in the electronic properties of the melt.     

Unusual physical and chemical properties of Cu in Ce(1-x)Cu(x)O(2) oxides

The structural and electronic properties of Ce(1-x)Cu(x)O(2) nano systems prepared by a reverse microemulsion method were characterized with synchrotron-based X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and density functional calculations. The Cu atoms embedded in ceria had an oxidation state higher than those of the cations in Cu(2)O or CuO. The lattice of the Ce(1)(-x)Cu(x)O(2) systems still adopted a fluorite-type structure, but it was highly distorted with multiple cation-oxygen distances with respect to the single cation-oxygen bond distance seen in pure ceria. The doping of CeO(2) with copper introduced a large strain into the oxide lattice and favored the formation of O vacancies, leading to a Ce(1-x)Cu(x)O(2-y) stoichiometry for our materials. Cu approached the planar geometry characteristic of Cu(II) oxides, but with a strongly perturbed local order. The chemical activities of the Ce(1-x)Cu(x)O(2) nanoparticles were tested using the reactions with H(2) and O(2) as probes. During the reduction in hydrogen, an induction time was observed and became shorter after raising the reaction temperature. The fraction of copper that could be reduced in the Ce(1-x)Cu(x)O(2) oxides also depended strongly on the reaction temperature. A comparison with data for the reduction of pure copper oxides indicated that the copper embedded in ceria was much more difficult to reduce. The reduction of the Ce(1-x)Cu(x)O(2) nanoparticles was rather reversible, without the generation of a significant amount of CuO or Cu(2)O phases during reoxidation. This reversible process demonstrates the unusual structural and chemical properties of the Cu-doped ceria materials.     

The reactive chemisorption of alkyl iodides at Cu(110) and Ag(111) surfaces: a combined STM and XPS study

The chemisorption of methyl and phenyl iodide has been studied at Cu(110) and Ag(111) surfaces at 290 K with STM and XPS. At both surfaces dissociative adsorption of both molecules leads to chemisorbed iodine, with the STM showing c(2 x 2) and (square root 3 x square root 3)R30 structures at the Cu(110) and Ag(111) surfaces, respectively. At the Cu(110) surface a comparison of coexisting c(2 x 2) I(a) and p(2 x 1) O(a) domains shows the iodine adatoms to be chemisorbed in hollow sites with evidence at low coverage for diffusion in the (110) direction. In the case of methyl iodide no carbon adsorption is observed at either the silver or the copper surfaces, but chemisorbed phenyl groups are imaged at the Cu(110) surface after exposure to phenyl iodide. The STM images show the phenyl groups as bright features approximately 0.7 nm in diameter and 0.11 nm above the iodine adlayer, reaching a maximum surface concentration after approximately 6 Langmuir exposure. However, the phenyl coverage decreases with subsequent exposures to PhI and is negligible by approximately 1000 L exposure, consistent with the formation and desorption of biphenyl. The adsorbed phenyls are located above hollow sites in the substrate, they are stabilized at the top and bottom of step edges and in paired chains (1.1 nm apart) on the terraces with a regular interphenyl spacing within the chains of 1.0 nm in the (110) direction. The interphenyl ring spacing and diffusion of individual phenyls from within the chains shows that the chains do not consist of biphenyl species but may be a precursor to their formation. Although the XPS data shows carbon present at the Ag(111) surface after exposure to PhI, no features attributable to phenyl groups were observed by STM.     

Density functional theory study of CHx (x=1-3) adsorption on clean and CO precovered Rh(111) surfaces

CH(x) (x=1-3) adsorptions on clean and CO precovered Rh(111) surfaces were studied by density functional theory calculations. It is found that CH(x) (x=1-3) radicals prefer threefold hollow sites on Rh(111) surfaces, and the bond strength between CH(x) and Rh(111) follows the order of CH(3)相似文献   

Preparation and Optical Properties of CdTe/CdO-nH2O Core/shell Nano-composites in Aqueous Solution

"The deposition of CdO?nH2O on CdTe nanoparticles was studied in an aqueous phase. The CdTe nanocrystals (NCs) were prepared in aqueous solution through the reaction between Cd2+ and NaHTe in the presence of thioglycolic acid as a stabilizer. The molar ratio of the Cd2+ to Te2- in the precursory solution played an important role in the photoluminescence of the ultimate CdTe NCs. The strongest photoluminescence was obtained under 4.0 of Cd2+/Te2- at pH?8.2. With the optimum dosage of Cd(II) hydrous oxide deposited on the CdTe NCs, the photoluminescence was enhanced greatly. The photoluminescence of these nanocomposites was kept constant in the pH range of 8.0-10.0, but dramatically decreased with an obvious blue-shifted peak while the pH was below 8.0. In addition, the photochemical oxidation of CdTe NCs with cadmium hydrous oxide deposition was markedly inhibited."     

New barium copper chalcogenides synthesized using two different chalcogen atoms: Ba2Cu(6-x)STe4 and Ba2Cu(6-x)Se(y)Te(5-y)

Ba(2)Cu(6-x)STe(4) and Ba(2)Cu(6-x)Se(y)Te(5-y) were prepared from the elements in stoichiometric ratios at 1123 K, followed by slow cooling. These chalcogenides are isostructural, adopting the space group Pbam (Z = 2), with lattice dimensions of a = 9.6560(6) ?, b = 14.0533(9) ?, c = 4.3524(3) ?, and V = 590.61(7) ?(3) in the case of Ba(2)Cu(5.53(3))STe(4). A significant phase width was observed in the case of Ba(2)Cu(6-x)Se(y)Te(5-y) with at least 0.17(3) ≤ x ≤ 0.57(4) and 0.48(1) ≤ y ≤ 1.92(4). The presence of either S or Se in addition to Te appears to be required for the formation of these materials. In the structure of Ba(2)Cu(6-x)STe(4), Cu-Te chains running along the c axis are interconnected via bridging S atoms to infinite layers parallel to the a,c plane. These layers alternate with the Ba atoms along the b axis. All Cu sites exhibit deficiencies of up to 26%. Depending on y in Ba(2)Cu(6-x)Se(y)Te(5-y), the bridging atom is either a Se atom or a Se/Te mixture when y ≤ 1, and the Te atoms of the Cu-Te chains are partially replaced by Se when y > 1. All atoms are in their most common oxidation states: Ba(2+), Cu(+), S(2-), Se(2-), and Te(2-). Without Cu deficiencies, these chalcogenides were computed to be small gap semiconductors; the Cu deficiencies lead to p-doped semiconducting properties, as experimentally observed on selected samples.