Efficient electrochromic performance of anatase TiO2 thin films prepared by nebulized spray deposition method

Anatase TiO₂ thin films with high optical modulation, better reversibility, fast switching time, and enhanced coloration efficiency were prepared by nebulized spray pyrolysis technique. X-ray diffraction study confirmed the formation of anatase phase TiO₂ in the present work. This inference was substantiated from the Raman active modes of A_1g, 2 B_1g, and 3 E_g corresponding to O–Ti–O bond in TiO₂. The PL emission peak observed at 400 nm is corresponds to the indirect transition (X_1b?→?Γ₃) from the conduction band to the valence band. The average reflectance of TiO₂ thin films was varied from 31 to 20%. The electrochemical study revealed the excellent performance of TiO₂ films with high optical modulation (ΔT?=?61%), fast switching kinetics (t _b ?=?1.6 s, t _c ?=?2.4 s), good coloration efficiency (100 cm² C^?1), and better reversibility (86%). The efficient electrochromic behavior of films may be due to the smooth microstructure nature, which provides an easy pathway for the diffusion and charge transfer process of Li⁺ ions in TiO₂ film matrix. The fast transfer of Li⁺ ion was realized from the electrochemical impedance spectroscopic measurement.     

Comparison of doping limits among sonochemically prepared metal-doped TiO2 nanopowders in view of physicochemical properties

According to binding energy calculations in a unit cell model of anatase TiO₂, the doping limits for Cr, V, W, Mo, Zr, and Nb are predicted to increase in this order. In our experimental test of doping limits, Cr and W are considered in this series of transition metals, since their low doping limits suggest greater difficulty of doping into anatase structure than the others, thereby providing a challenging test for the prediction. Besides, noble metals such as Ag and Pt are selected for doping into TiO₂ for comparison. Thus, our investigation includes twofold research activities. One is to prepare metal-doped TiO₂ nanopowders of four different kinds, and the other is to determine the doping limit of each resulting powder. For the former, a sonochemical process has been used to produce metal-doped TiO₂ nanoparticles. For the latter, we resorted to electron probe microanalysis. In addition, we performed analysis by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, as well as photocatalytic reaction with methylene blue. Thus, the resulting physicochemical properties of our metal-doped nanoparticles are expected to provide a basis for comparison of doping limits among them.     

Photosensitive layers of TiO2/polythiophene composites prepared by electrodeposition

We adopted an electrophoretic deposition method for the preparation of thin layers of insoluble composite nanoparticles composed of TiO₂ core and about 2 nm thick shell of polythiophene, prepared by oxidative polymerization of thiophene. The reduced form of TiO₂-polythiophene composite material was deposited on the conductive surface from an ultrasonically generated microdispersion. Varying the dispersion media, applied voltage and the electrode arrangement made it possible to control the quality and morphology of the films. Compact semitransparent films deposited on ITO electrodes, suitable for photoelectrical measurements, were obtained within short deposition times.     

自组装成膜法制TiO2薄膜

采用有机分子自组装(Self-Assembly)成膜技术将硅烷偶联剂[(CH3O)3Si(CH2)3SH]组装在普通的玻片表面, 得到二维有的单层有机膜, 并将膜端基(SH)原位氧化为磺酸基(SO3H)。利用该功能基(SO3H)的吸附性, 从四氯化钛的水溶液中淀积制得了TiO2薄膜。X射线光电子能谱(XPS)和原子力显微镜(AFM)等研究显示, TiO2薄膜是均匀和连续的, 具有良好的透明性。     

Structure of TiO2 in TiO2-SiO2 prepared by a complexing agent-assisted sol-gel procedure

Many types of TiO₂-SiO₂ (Ti:Si=50:50 mol%) were prepared by the sol-gel procedure with and without 2-methyl-2, 4-pentanediol (MPD) as an organic ligand. The effect of MPD on the gel structure and the properties of the TiO₂ crystals were studied by XRD and raman spectroscopy, and the effect of the sol standing time on the properties of the TiO₂ crystals were also studied by XRD spectroscopy. In the gels with MPD, anatase of TiO₂ appeared at approximately 580°C, and the crystal structures were similar despite the difference in the gel preparation procedure. The titania gels with MPD were presumed to be dispersed in the silica gel matrix without any Ti-O-Si bond. In the presence of MPD, the formation of titania gels is controlled and the specified TiO₂ crystal is produced.     

Internal structure of nanoporous TiO2/polyion thin films prepared by layer-by-layer deposition

The internal structure of porous TiO2 films prepared by electrostatic layer-by-layer deposition was investigated. The films were prepared by alternate dipping of solid substrates into dispersions of TiO2 nanoparticles and polycations, polyanions, or pure buffer solution, respectively. The surface charge of the amphoteric TiO2 particles was controlled by the pH of the aqueous dispersions. The morphology of the film surface was investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy. It was found that the surface roughness strongly depends on the polymeric material used for the deposition process but is independent of the ionic strength of the solution or the molecular weight of the polyions. The samples with rough surfaces feature strong light scattering. The porosity and internal structure of the TiO2/polyelectrolyte films were investigated by adsorption/desorption of dye molecules. A crude estimate yields an internal surface that is up to 160 times the plane surface of the substrate for a film thickness of 1 microm. The composition of the films was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Detection of the XPS signal after each deposition step of the first three dipping cycles shows a significant increase of the relative surface coverage of Ti after the TiO2 deposition step and of PSS after the PSS deposition step. For later dipping cycles, such an increase was also detectable but less prominent.     

Preparation and Characterizations of TiO2/Organically Modified Silane Composite Materials Produced by the Sol-Gel Method

TiO₂/organically modified silane (ORMOSIL) composite materials produced by the sol-gel method were studied for optical waveguide applications. High optical quality waveguiding films on different substrates, including silicon, gallium arsenide, silica/silicon substrates, and microscope glass slides, were prepared from high titanium content (0.2 molar) ÿ-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane at low temperature. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), differential thermal analysis (DTA), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) have been used to investigate the optical and structural properties of the composite films. The TGA/DTA results showed that the organic compounds in the film would tend to decompose in the temperature range from 200°C to 500°C. SEM and AFM results showed that a dense and porous-free composite material film could be obtained at the heat treatment temperature of 100°C. It was also shown that ORMOSIL is integrated in the glass, providing low shrinkage and high cracking resistance. The propagation loss properties of the composite films were also investigated. About 1.1 dB/cm propagation loss of the planar waveguide film was obtained at the wavelength of 633 nm.     

Sorption of lanthanum ions by natural clinoptilolite tuff

The equilibrium and kinetics of sorption of lanthanum ions on natural clinoptilolite tuff are studied. It is demonstrated that sorption of lanthanum ions from diluted solutions occurs in micropores of clinoptilolite, and from concentrated solutions in the mesoporous structure of tuff. The main capacity of zeolite tuff is found in the secondary porous structure. The sorption of lanthanum ions is limited by diffusion in tuff grains. Lanthanum ions are regularly distributed in the tuff phase and interact with the Brønsted centers of large clinoptilolite cavities.     

Synthesis of nanopowders of the aluminum-substituted lanthanum gallate solid electrolyte by mechanochemical route

The room temperature mechanosynthesis of La_1−xSr_xGa_1−y−zMg_yAl_zO_3−δ nanopowders is successfully demonstrated for a broad compositional range (x ≤ 0.1; y ≤ 0.2, z ≤ 0.4) by resorting to a nearly amorphous alumina precursor with enhanced reactivity. It is shown that ceramics with one single phase and free from open porosity can be obtained by sintering these nanopowders at 1350–1450 °C. Microstructural data show that the substitution of Ga by Al hinders densification and decreases the grain size of ceramics. This is explained assuming the segregation of aluminum cations to the grain boundaries as a result of the decrease of the cationic diffusion coefficients.     

Dielectric properties of Ni-doped Ba0.5Sr0.5TiO3 ceramics prepared with hydrothermal synthesized nanopowders

Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Ti_1?xNi_xO₃ (BSTN) ceramics were prepared from BSTN nanopowders synthesized by a hydrothermal method. The phase and microstructure of samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy. XRD results indicate a cubic structure of the pure BST nanopowders. The cubic structure can be converted to the orthorhombic phase with increasing of Ni content to x = 0.01 and returned to the cubic structure with the presence of Ni(OH)₂ impurity phase for x = 0.03 and 0.05. However, the BSTN ceramics sintered at 1,200 °C for 3 h revealed the orthorhombic phase structure with NiO impurity phase for all Ni content. The doping of Ni in Ba_0.5Sr_0.5TiO₃ structure can increase the grain size of samples from 1.47 to 3.26 μm. The dielectric constant, loss tangent (tanδ) and phase transition temperature of BSTN ceramics were reduced with increasing Ni content.     

Partially crystallized Pd nanoparticles decorated TiO2 prepared by atmospheric-pressure cold plasma and its enhanced photocatalytic performance

TiO2 decorated with partially crystallized Pd nanoparticles （Pd/TiO2-P） was successfully prepared by atmospheric-pressure dielectric barrier discharge cold plasma. The XRD and XPS analyses proved that Pd ions were reduced to partially crystallized metallic Pd nanoparticles in Pd/TiO2-P. The XPS spectra also indicated that an enhanced metal-support interaction was formed due to the existence of partially crystallized Pd nanoparticles with lower coordination number in Pd/TiO2-P. Photocatalytic activity of Pd/TiO2-P was much higher than that of TiO2 samples decorated with well crystallized Pd nanoparticles.     

Photocatalytic and immobilization characteristics of immobilized ZnO and TiO2 nanopowders

Research on Chemical Intermediates - A kind of photocatalytic ZnO nanopowder and two kinds of photocatalytic TiO2 nanopowders were prepared. The ZnO nanopowder was synthesized by the solution...     

Copper salts catalysis of N-phenylation of amines by trivalent organobismuth compounds

The N-arylation of aliphatic and aromatic amines by Ph₃Bi and Cu(OCOR)₂ gives high yield of the mono- or di-phenylated amines under mild conditions.     

Highly active TiO2N photocatalysts prepared by treating TiO2 precursors in NH3/ethanol fluid under supercritical conditions

N-doped TiO2 photocatalysts were prepared by pretreating the TiO2 precursor in NH3/ethanol fluid under supercritical conditions, denoted as TiO2N(SC). In contrast to the TiO2N(DC), obtained via direct calcination in which the N dopants were mainly present in the form of surface adsorbed NH3 molecules, most N dopants in the TiO2N(SC) were present in O-Ti-N and N-Ti-N nitrides, as confirmed by either the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and or the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra. During liquid-phase oxidative degradation of phenol under irradiation with UV light characteristic of 365 nm, the TiO2N(SC) exhibited much higher activity than either the TiO2N(DC) or the TiO2(SC), i.e., the undoped TiO2 obtained under SCs. According to various characterizations including X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, FTIR, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller, XPS, and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra, the higher activity of the TiO2N(SC) could be attributed to its higher surface area, larger pore volume, well-crystallized anatase, and stronger absorbance of light with longer wavelength. Meanwhile, the OH species resulted from the nitridation of TiO2 could supply more HO* radicals, which were considered as powerful oxidants during phenol degradation. Furthermore, the electron-deficient nitrogen atoms in O-Ti-N nitrides could also account for the higher activity since it could inhibit the recombination between the photoinduced electrons and holes by capturing the photoinduced electrons. The activity of the TiO2N(SC) first increased and then decreased with the increase of the N-content. The TiO2N(SC)-1 with N/Ti molar ratio of 1.73% exhibited maximum activity, which was even much higher than P-25.     

RuO2/Co3O4 thin films prepared by spray pyrolysis technique for supercapacitors

RuO₂/Co₃O₄ thin films with different RuO₂ content were successfully prepared on fluorine-doped tin oxide coated glass plate substrates by spray pyrolysis method, and their capacitive behavior was investigated. Electrochemical property was performed by cyclic voltammetry, constant current charge/discharge, and electrochemical impedance spectra. The capacitive performance of RuO₂/Co₃O₄ thin films with different RuO₂ content corresponded to a contribution from a main pseudocapacitance and an additional electric double-layer capacitance. The specific capacitance of pure Co₃O₄, 15.5%, 35.6%, and 62.3% RuO₂ composites at the current density of 0.2 A g⁻¹ were 394 ± 8, 453 ± 9, 520 ± 10, and 690 ± 14 F g⁻¹, respectively; 62.3% RuO₂ composite presented the highest specific capacitance value at various current densities, whereas 35.6% RuO₂ composite exhibited not only the largest specific capacitance contribution from RuO₂ (C _sp ^RuO2) at the current density of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 A g⁻¹ but also the highest specific capacitance retention ratio (46.3 ± 2.8%) at the current density ranging from 0.2 to 2.0 A g⁻¹. Electrochemical impedance spectra showed that the contact resistance dropped gradually with the decrease of RuO₂ content, and the charge-transfer resistance (R _ct) increased gradually with the decrease of RuO₂ content.     

Designing of nanostructured hollow TiO2 spheres obtained by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis

Theoretical model describing the mechanism of droplet formation and structure of hollow TiO2 spheres prepared by the process of ultrasonic spray pyrolysis, using colloidal solution consisting of the 2.5-nm TiO2 nanoparticles as a precursor, is developed. The proposed model quantitatively defines each line in the size distribution spectrum. The mechanism of droplet formation and/or particle genesis is fully determined by harmonization between the physical fields inherent to the system as the consequence of its physical characteristics: external, e.g., ultrasound, and internal. Agreement between theoretically obtained basic structural parameters (size distribution and geometry) and experimentally determined values was found.     

Extraction of trivalent lanthanum,cerium and yttrium thiocynate complexes by tributyl phosphate

The distribution of La(III), Ce(III) and Y(III) from potassium thiocyanate solutions by tributyl phosphate is described. The dependence of extraction on pH, thiocyanate concentration, metal and extractant concentration, diluent type and temperature, was thoroughly investigated. Solvation numbers and thermodynamic data were calculated and discussed. A method has been suggested for the separation of Th(IV) from such elements.     

Solar photocatalytic activities of porous Nb-doped TiO2 microspheres prepared by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis

Ultrasonic spray pyrolysis method was used to prepare Nb-doped TiO₂ porous microspheres with an average diameter of 500 nm for solar photocatalytic applications. The effect of Nb-doping on morphology, structure, surface area, as well as spectral absorption properties of TiO₂ microspheres was investigated with SEM, TEM, XRD, Raman spectra, BET, and UV-Vis absorption spectra. The Nb-doping decreased the grain size of TiO₂ porous microsphere, and influenced its surface area and pore size distribution dependent on the doping concentration, but changed negligibly the morphology and size of TiO₂ microspheres. Moreover, the Nb-doping was observed to extend the spectral absorption of TiO₂ into visible spectrum, and the absorption onset was red-shifted for about 88 nm at a doping level of 5% compared to pristine TiO₂ microspheres. Under solar or visible irradiation, Nb-doped TiO₂ microspheres showed higher photocatalytic activity for methylene blue degradation compared with TiO₂ microspheres, which could be ascribed to the extended light absorption range and the suppression of electron-hole pair recombination.