Hydrogen bonding effects on the surface structure and photoelectrochemical properties of nanostructured SnO2 electrodes modified with porphyrin and fullerene composites

Hydrogen bonding effects on surface structure, photophysical properties, and photoelectrochemistry have been examined in a mixed film of porphyrin and fullerene composites with and without hydrogen bonding on indium tin oxide and nanostructured SnO2 electrodes. The nanostructured SnO2 electrodes modified with the mixed films of porphyrin and fullerene composites with hydrogen bonding exhibited efficient photocurrent generation compared to the reference systems without hydrogen bonding. Atomic force microscopy, infrared reflection absorption, and ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopies and time-resolved fluorescence lifetime and transient absorption spectroscopic measurements disclosed the relationship between the surface structure and photophysical and photoelectrochemical properties relating to the formation of hydrogen bonding between the porphyrins and/or the C60 moieties in the films on the electrode surface. These results show that hydrogen bonding is a highly promising methodology for the fabrication of donor and acceptor composites on nanostructured semiconducting electrodes, which exhibit high photoelectrochemical properties.     

Self-assembly and characterization of hydrogen-bond-induced nanostructure aggregation.

A supramolecular system of a perylene derivative containing bis(2,6-diacylaminopyridine) units and a perylene bisimide bound through three hydrogen-bonds was synthesized and characterized. 1H NMR spectra confirmed the existence of hydrogen-bonding interactions between the perylene derivative (3) and the perylene bisimide (7). The photocurrent generation of the self-assembled 3.7 film was measured, and a cathodic photocurrent response was obtained. SEM images indicated that well-defined long fibers could be fabricated by self-assembly, by exploiting the hydrogen bonding interactions and pi-pi stacking interactions of perylene rings.     

Covalently attached self‐assembly of ultrathin films from hydroxy‐containing porphyrin and diazoresin

Ultrathin films from 5,10,15,20‐tetrakis(4‐hydroxyphenyl) porphyrin (HPP) and diazoresin (DR) via a H bonding interaction were fabricated with the self‐assembly technique. Under UV irradiation, the H bonds between the layers will convert to covalent bonds following the decomposition of the diazonium group of DR. The stability of the film against the polar solvent and electrolyte aqueous solution increases a lot because of the formation of the covalent crosslinking structure. Thus, the photoelectric conversion property of DR/HPP film can be measured directly with a normal photoelectric chemical cell with potassium chloride as the electrolyte. The maximum of the anodic photocurrent was measured as 1.7 μ Å for an eight bilayer DR/HPP film deposited on an indium–tin oxide glass electrode. The action spectrum of the photocurrent generation indicated that the HPP contained in the film is responsible for the generation of the observed photocurrent. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 3103–3108, 2003     

Nanodiamonds as photocatalysts for reduction of water and graphene oxide

Detonated nanodiamonds (NDs) exhibit remarkable photocatalytic activity towards the hydrogen gas generation upon 532 nm laser pulse irradiation. Hydrogenation dramatically increases the quantum yield, suggesting that hydrogen-terminated sites work as electron reservoirs. NDs can also be used as effective photocatalysts to reduce graphene oxide. The resulting composites exhibit high and stable photocurrent generation upon visible light irradiation.     

含不同链长的三个卟啉LB膜修饰电极的光电响应研究

利用LB (Langmuir-Blodgett)技术将含不同链长的卟啉化合物(C4Py, C6Py和C8Py)单层膜转移到ITO (indium-tin oxide)导电玻璃上, 发现其具有良好的光电转换性质. 卟啉化合物修饰后的紫外吸收光谱与光电流工作谱重叠, 表明卟啉化合物起到了敏化光电流产生的效果; 而且电子给体、电子受体和偏压对其敏化效果的实验结果表明: 光诱导电子转移是产生光电响应的主要原因. 而且, 这三个卟啉化合物的光电响应性质与碳链长度相关, 其中含有六个碳链的C6Py表现出最佳的光电转化效果.     

硫氧键合BiVO4光阳极与FeNi催化剂实现高效水氧化

光电催化分解水可以将充足的太阳能直接转化存储为绿色清洁的氢能,然而光阳极表面缓慢的析氧反应动力学严重限制了太阳能到氢能的转化效率。我们通过一种简单的S-O键合策略实现BiVO4光阳极与FeNi催化剂的界面耦合（S:BiVO4-FeNi）,其光电催化分解水的光电流达到6.43 mA/cm2（1.23 VRHE, AM 1.5G）。进一步研究结果表明：界面S-O键合能够有效实现BiVO4光阳极光生电荷分离并促进空穴向FeNi催化剂表面迁移。同时,S-O键合可以进一步调控FeNi催化剂表面的电荷分布,从而有效提高光电化学分解水析氧活性和稳定性。该工作为设计构建具有高效、稳定的太阳能光电催化分解水体系提供了一种新的研究策略。     

Some interesting properties of black hydrogen-treated TiO2 nanowires and their potential application in solar energy conversion

Hydrogen treatment has been proposed as a simple and effective strategy to enhance the performance of Ti O2 nanostructures for applications such as photocatalysis and photoelectrochemical(PEC) water splitting. While some studies have suggested that the black color can be ascribed to surface disorder, other reports have suggested that it is caused by the "oxygen vacancy" states associated with Ti3+ within the bandgap of the Ti O2. The chemical nature and potential use of the bandgap states responsible for the black color of increased visible absorption is not yet well understood and subject of strong interest. Here we briefly review current understanding of the possible mechanisms behind the black color of hydrogen-treated Ti O2 nanowires and its relevance to photocatalysis and solar water splitting for hydrogen generation. One important conclusion to date is that while hydrogen treatment enhances photocurrent of Ti O2 with UV excitation, no noticeable photocurrent can be detected with visible light, which seems to be due to the very short lifetimes of the bandgap oxygen vacancy states arising from hydrogen treatment.     

汞溴红敏化TiO2纳米多孔膜电极的光电化学性质研究

用汞溴红(Mercurochrome)作敏化剂敏化TiO2纳米多孔膜电极,UV-Vis,光电流作用谱和SPS谱表明,该敏化剂能有效地敏化TiO2电极,并且染料聚集体能扩大染料的敏化区间,增加了太阳光的利用效率,对电极施加不同的偏压,测试电极产生的瞬态光电流,研究了偏压对光生电荷转移及复合速率的影响,从不同方向照射电极,对阳极光电流影响显著,结合电化学、光电化学原理对这些现象进行了讨论.     

Synthesis and structure of intramolecularly hydrogen bonded dendrons

[reaction: see text] A convenient synthesis of monodendrons whose conformation is restricted through the intervention of intramolecular hydrogen bonding and repulsive electrostatic interactions is described. X-ray crystal structure analysis of the second generation dendron shows the presence of a propeller-type secondary structure and indicates that the dendrons have assembled into a symmetrically interdigitated dimer in the solid state. 1H NMR and IR spectral data are in agreement with the presence of intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the amides and the pyridine N throughout the dendron structure in solution.     

Hydrogen bond donor solvents enabled metal and halogen-free Friedel–Crafts acylations with virtually no waste stream

We have developed a metal and halogen-free Friedel–Crafts acylation protocol with virtually no waste stream generation. We propose a hydrogen bonding donor solvent will form a hydrogen bonding network and may provide significant rate enhancement for Friedel–Crafts reactions. Trifluoroacetic acid is one of the strongest H-bond donor solvents, which is also volatile and can be easily recovered by distillation without need for reaction workup. Our protocol is a ‘green’ Friedel–Crafts acylation process: 1) the catalyst can be recovered and reused; 2) using halogen free starting material (carboxylic acids anhydride or carboxylic acids); 3) no need for aqueous reaction work-up; 4) minimum or no waste steam generation.     

两个手性胶囊分子的氢键介质的动态共价键合成

从手性环己-1,2-二胺衍生的手性双头基前体出发合成了两个手性的双层结构的胶囊化合物。设计前体带有氨基和醛基,它们被连接到两个分子内氢键诱导的折叠体片段上。分子内氢键通过促进三个亚胺键的形成促进两个大环板块的选择性形成。     

Covalentely Attached Multilayer Films Comprising Phthalocyanine and Their Photoelectron Conversion Properties

The photosensitive multilayer films from sulfonated metal-free, sulfonated copper-, and sulfonated nickel-phthalocyanines were fabricated with diazoresin layer by layer on a substrate via electrostatic interaction by the self-assembly technique. Under UV irradiation, the linkage nature between the layers of the film is converted from the electrostatic bonding to covalent bonding. The covalently attached multilayer films are very stable towards polar solvents and salt aqueous solutions. The photovoltaic properties of the covalently attached film can be determined by means of a traditional three-electrode photoelectrochemical cell in aqueous solutions with KCI as the supporting electrolyte. The photocurrent determination has shown that the sulfonated copper-containing phthalocyanine films possess a higher photocurrent value than sulfonated metalfree and sulfonated nickel-containing phthaloeyanine films.     

Sequence‐Dependent Photocurrent Generation through Long‐Distance Excess‐Electron Transfer in DNA

Given its well‐ordered continuous π stacking of nucleobases, DNA has been considered as a biomaterial for charge transfer in biosensors. For cathodic photocurrent generation resulting from hole transfer in DNA, sensitivity to DNA structure and base‐pair stacking has been confirmed. However, such information has not been provided for anodic photocurrent generation resulting from excess‐electron transfer in DNA. In the present study, we measured the anodic photocurrent of a DNA‐modified Au electrode. Our results demonstrate long‐distance excess‐electron transfer in DNA, which is dominated by a hopping mechanism, and the photocurrent generation is sequence dependent.     

Photocurrent Generation and Polarity Switching in Electrochemical Cells through Light-induced Excited State Proton Transfer of Photoacids and Photobases**

Light is a common source of energy in sustainable technologies for photocurrent generation. To date, in such light-harvesting applications, the excited electrons generate the photocurrent. Here, we introduce a new mechanism for photocurrent generation that is based on excited state proton transfer (ESPT) of photoacids and photobases that can donate or accept a proton, respectively, but only after excitation. We show that the formed ions following ESPT can either serve as electron donors or acceptors with the electrodes, or modify the kinetics of mass transport across the diffuse layer, both resulting in photocurrent generation. We further show that control of the current polarity is obtained by switching the irradiation between the photoacid and the photobase. Our study represents a new approach in photoelectrochemistry by introducing ESPT processes, which can be further utilized in light-responsive energy production or energy storage.     

A High-Efficiency Hematite Photoanode with Enhanced Bonding Energy Around Fe Atoms

Hematite nanoarrays are important photoanode materials. However, they suffer from serious problems of charge transfer and surface states; in particular, the surface states hinder the increase in photocurrent. A previous strategy to suppress the surface state is the deposition of an Fe-free metal oxide overlayer. Herein, from the viewpoint of atomic bonding energy, it is found that the strength of bonding around Fe atoms in the hematite is the key to suppressing the surface states. By treating the surface of hematite with Se and NaBH₄, the Fe₂O₃ transforms to a double-layer nanostructure. In the outer layer, the Fe−O bonding is reinforced and the Fe−Se bonding is even stronger. Therefore, the surface states are inhibited and the increase in the photocurrent density becomes much faster. Besides, the treatment constructs a nanoscale p–n junction to promote the charge transfer. Improvements are achieved in onset potential (0.25 V shift) and in photocurrent density (5.8 times). This work pinpoints the key to suppressing the surface states and preparing a high-efficiency hematite nanoarray, and deepens our understanding of hematite photoanodes.     

Light-driven water splitting for (bio-)hydrogen production: photosystem 2 as the central part of a bioelectrochemical device

To establish a semiartificial device for (bio-)hydrogen production utilizing photosynthetic water oxidation, we report on the immobilization of a Photosystem 2 on electrode surfaces. For this purpose, an isolated Photosystem 2 with a genetically introduced His tag from the cyanobacterium Thermosynechococcus elongatus was attached onto gold electrodes modified with thiolates bearing terminal Ni(II)-nitrilotriacetic acid groups. Surface enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy showed the binding kinetics of Photosystem 2, whereas surface plasmon resonance measurements allowed the amount of protein adsorbed to be quantified. On the basis of these data, the surface coverage was calculated to be 0.29 pmol protein cm(-2), which is in agreement with the formation of a monomolecular film on the electrode surface. Upon illumination, the generation of a photocurrent was observed with current densities of up to 14 microA cm(-2) . This photocurrent is clearly dependent on light quality showing an action spectrum similar to an isolated Photosystem 2. The achieved current densities are equivalent to the highest reported oxygen evolution activities in solution under comparable conditions.     

Simulation of Amorphous Nylon 6 Using SuSi,a Strategy Based on Generation–Relaxation Algorithms

Summary: The ability of SuSi to generate microstructures of polymers with hydrogen bonding interactions has been checked. This is a random procedure recently developed to localize independent minima. Calculations were performed on nylon 6, a large number of equilibrated and relaxed atomistic models, i.e. microstructures without torsional strain and atomic overlaps, being generated. Results indicated that the generation algorithm implemented in SuSi underestimates the amount of amide groups involved in hydrogen bonding interactions. This is an expected result since no specific criterion was introduced in it to facilitate the formation of specific interactions. Several modifications have been introduced in the generation algorithm to overcome this limitation. The changes induced by these modifications in the generated microstructures are discussed.

A new computational strategy denoted SuSi generates atomistic models of hydrogen bond forming polymers with very reliable results.     

Ultrafast Vibrational Dynamics of Membrane‐Bound Peptides at the Lipid Bilayer/Water Interface

Vibrational energy transfer (VET) of proteins at cell membrane plays critical roles in controlling the protein functionalities, but its detection is very challenging. By using a surface‐sensitive femtosecond time‐resolved sum‐frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy with infrared pump, the detection of the ultrafast VET in proteins at cell membrane has finally become possible. The vibrational relaxation time of the N−H groups is determined to be 1.70(±0.05) ps for the α‐helix located in the hydrophobic core of the lipid bilayer and 0.9(±0.05) ps for the membrane‐bound β‐sheet structure. The N−H groups with strong hydrogen bonding gain faster relaxation time. By pumping the amide A band and probing amide I band, the vibrational relaxation from N−H mode to C=O mode through two pathways (direct coupling and through intermediate states) is revealed. The ratio of the pathways depends on the NH⋅⋅⋅O=C hydrogen‐bonding strength. Strong hydrogen bonding favors the coupling through intermediate states.     

湿化学法制备硅纳米线阵列及其光电化学产氢性能分析

为了探究不同方法条件下制备的硅纳米线阵列电极产氢性能异同,文中分别采用了两步金属辅助催化无电刻蚀法、一步金属辅助催化无电刻蚀法以及阳极氧化法来制备硅纳米线阵列用作为光电分解水电池光阴极材料.通过FESEM、XRD和UV-Vis-IRDRS等手段对实验样品的形貌、晶型、减反性表征,发现相比于其他2种方法所得硅纳米线样品,两步金属辅助催化无电刻蚀法制备的硅纳米线结构晶型保持更好,表面缺陷更少.光电化学测试表明两步金属辅助催化无电刻蚀法制备的硅纳米线光电化学性能表现最优,其光电流密度值是一步法的4倍,阳极氧化法的40倍;转移电荷电阻仅是一步法制备的硅纳米线阵列阻值的1/3,阳极氧化法制备的1/1000.     

HYDROGEN BONDING IN POLYMERIC ADSORBENTS BASED ADSORPTION AND SEPARATION

I INTRODUCTION.Ftinctional polymer materials for adsorption and separation are widely used in indtistry,agriculture, hi-tech, national defense and scientific research. Functions of these polymermaterials are displayed through interactions between the materials and small molecules or ions,which include ion bonding, covalent bonding, coordinate bonding and van der Waals forces.FunCtional polymers based on the above interactions are ion exchange resins, polymer supportedreagentS, chelating …