A three-dimensional network structure built from selenodiphosphate(IV) and copper selenide tetrahedral building blocks: K3Cu3P3Se9

The reaction of red phosphorus, potassium polyselenide, and copper metal at moderate temperatures yields K₃Cu₃P₃Se₉. The structure was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction (P2₁/c, a = 8.741(2) Å, b = 10.774(2) Å, c = 20.033(3) Å, β = 92.96(2)°). The structure consists of [P₂Se₆]^4?-anions that link [CuSe₄] tetrahedra in an open, three-dimensional, framework structure. A Valence Electron Concentration treatment of this structure reveals six different primary tetrahedral building blocks.     

Synthesis and characterization of an open framework ballium selenide: Ga4Se7(en)2 x (enH)2

An open framework gallium selenide, Ga(4)Se(7)(en)(2).(enH)(2), has been prepared by the direct reaction of gallium (Ga) and selenium (Se) in ethylenediamine (en), in which both covalent and hydrogen bonds have been employed to combine the inorganic structures and organic spacers to build layers with micropores. Its structure has been determined by X-ray diffraction. Its thermal and optical properties have been characterized by TGA and UV-vis, Raman, and IR spectroscopies, respectively.     

Synthesis, crystal and band structures, and optical properties of a new mixed-framework mercury selenide diselenite, (Hg3Se2)(Se2O5)

A new mixed-framework mercury selenide diselenite, (Hg(3)Se(2))(Se(2)O(5)) (1), has been prepared by a solid-state reaction and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The crystal structure of 1 consists of parallel stair-like cationic (Hg(3)Se(2))(2+) chains, which are bridged by (Se(2)O(5))(2-) anionic groups to form a novel 2-D layered mixed-framework. The optical properties were investigated in terms of the diffuse reflectance and microscopic infrared spectra. The electronic band structure along with density of states (DOS) calculated by the DFT method indicates that compound 1 is a semiconductor, and that the optical absorption of 1 is mainly ascribed to the charge transitions from the O-2p and Se(-II)-4p states to the Se(IV)-4p and Hg-6s states.     

Design of energy band alignment at the Zn(1-x)Mg(x)O/Cu(In,Ga)Se2 interface for Cd-free Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells

The electronic band structure at the Zn(1-x)Mg(x)O/Cu(In(0.7)Ga(0.3))Se(2) interface was investigated for its potential application in Cd-free Cu(In,Ga)Se(2) thin film solar cells. Zn(1-x)Mg(x)O thin films with various Mg contents were grown by atomic layer deposition on Cu(In(0.7)Ga(0.3))Se(2) absorbers, which were deposited by the co-evaporation of Cu, In, Ga, and Se elemental sources. The electron emissions from the valence band and core levels were measured by a depth profile technique using X-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy. The valence band maximum positions are around 3.17 eV for both Zn(0.9)Mg(0.1)O and Zn(0.8)Mg(0.2)O films, while the valence band maximum value for CIGS is 0.48 eV. As a result, the valence band offset value between the bulk Zn(1-x)Mg(x)O (x = 0.1 and x = 0.2) region and the bulk CIGS region was 2.69 eV. The valence band offset value at the Zn(1-x)Mg(x)O/CIGS interface was found to be 2.55 eV after considering a small band bending in the interface region. The bandgap energy of Zn(1-x)Mg(x)O films increased from 3.25 to 3.76 eV as the Mg content increased from 0% to 25%. The combination of the valence band offset values and the bandgap energy of Zn(1-x)Mg(x)O films results in the flat (0 eV) and cliff (-0.23 eV) conduction band alignments at the Zn(0.8)Mg(0.2)O/Cu(In(0.7)Ga(0.3))Se(2) and Zn(0.9)Mg(0.1)O/Cu(In(0.7)Ga(0.3))Se(2) interfaces, respectively. The experimental results suggest that the bandgap energy of Zn(1-x)Mg(x)O films is the main factor that determines the conduction band offset at the Zn(1-x)Mg(x)O/Cu(In(0.7)Ga(0.3))Se(2) interface. Based on these results, we conclude that a Zn(1-x)Mg(x)O film with a relatively high bandgap energy is necessary to create a suitable conduction band offset at the Zn(1-x)Mg(x)O/CIGS interface to obtain a robust heterojunction. Also, ALD Zn(1-x)Mg(x)O films can be considered as a promising alternative buffer material to replace the toxic CdS for environmental safety.     

Synthesis and Single Crystal Structure of RbEr_2Cu_3Se_5

1 INTRODUCTION Halide fluxes are excellent media for growing single crystals of chalcogenides[1~3]. It is well known that during the single crystal growth via flux methods, occasional inclusion of the flux elements in the structure leads to the formation of new phases[4~9]. Several rare earth chalcogenides have been prepared through such reactive halid flux methods[4~9]. Thus we used RbCl as reactive flux to explore a new quaternary selenide by the reaction of ErCuSe precursor with Rb…     

Hexagonal high pressure phase of copper(I)tetraiodomercurate (Cu2HgI4)

Summary Using a high pressure X-ray camera Cu₂HgI₄ was subjected at room temperature to pressures up to about 8 GPa. A hexagonal high pressure phase (a=8.28 (2) Å,c=3.40 (0) Å, space group P lm,Z=1) could be detected. This phase shows a reversible transformation with pressure hysteresis. The transition occurs at 7 GPa when the pressure is increased but at 6 GPa when the pressure is decreased.

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Hexagonale Hochdruckphase von Kupfer(I)tetraiodomercurat (Cu₂HgI₄)

Zusammenfassung Cu₂HgI₄ wurde in einer Hochdruckkamera bei Raumtemperatur mit einem Druck bis zu 8 GPa belastet. Dabei bildete sich eine hexagonale Hochdruckmodifikation (a=8.28 (2) Å,c=3.40 (0) Å, Raumgruppe P lm,Z=1). Für diese Phase wurde eine reversible Umwandlung mit Druckhysterese festgestellt. Mit steigendem Druck findet die Umwandlung bei 7 GPa mit sinkendem Druck jedoch bei 6 GPa statt.

     

Study of electrodeposited zinc selenide (ZnSe) nanostructure thin films for solar cell applications

Electrodeposition approach was used to grow the ZnSe nanostructure on indium doped tin oxide (ITO) layered glass substrate. Due to low cost and high degree of absorption, binary semiconductors made from chalcogens such as CdSe, ZnO, ZnS and ZnSe provide significant features in photovoltaic and photoelectrochemical cells. The structural and morphological properties of deposited nanostructures were examined by XRD and SEM. X-ray diffraction analysis informed about cubic structure with a preferred orientation and the calculated crystal size was approximately 75 nm. The optical properties were examined by UV–visible absorbance spectra and optical band gap was measured using Tauc plot. The deposited ZnSe nanostructure has direct band gap ∼2.52 eV at room temperature which was less than 2.82 eV which is the band gap of bulk ZnSe. Investigations also focused on additional qualities like excellent optical transmission, low electrical resistance, and good photosensitivity. Because of the presence of defect states in the deposited nanostructure, the band gap energy is smaller than that of bulk material. The current-voltage characteristics were measured in dark mode and under illumination of normal tungsten filament light and LED. There was notable change in the current for both normal light and LED in comparison to dark mode. The findings of all the characterization methodologies suggested that for the production of solar cells low cost ZnSe may be used as an alternative environment friendly Cd-free window layer.     

Discrete copper(I) clusters with Cu6P6Se6 and Cu6P4Se6 cores

The reactions of chalcogenophosphinites with copper(I) metal salts are shown to yield highly stable, multi-metallic copper-chalcogen based clusters with novel topologies.     

Synthesis and phase behavior of liquid crystalline poly(3-n-ALKYL-4-hydroxybenzoates)

A series of 3-n-alkyl substituted poly(4-hydroxybenzoates) were prepared by melt-polycondensation of the corresponding monomers. The length of the alkyl side chains was varied in the range of 3 to 18 carbon atoms. The average degree of polymerisation (DP) was determined by ¹H NMR end-group analysis. The thermal behavior of the polymers was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarising microscopy (PM). Structural investigations of oriented and not oriented samples were performed by means of wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS). The density of the polymers was measured by gradient column technique.     

Investigation of visible light active Ag sensitized mixed phase TiO2 photocatalyst for solar energy application

Visible photo-active anatase and mixed phase Ag/TiO₂ photocatalysts were prepared using sol–gel method with 1.5 wt% Ag concentration. Due to the large band gap, pristine titania (anatase) is mainly active in the UV light and the photoactivity is limited. But in the presence of both anatase (~3.2 eV) and rutile (~3.0 eV) phases in TiO₂, the catalyst is expected to show enhancement in the photoactivity due to mixed phase junction. The Ag particles are used to act as electron sink and to swiftly transport the photo-generated electrons and, consequently, lessen the recombination rate. The synergistic effect of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) enhanced local field due to Ag particles and the existing mixed phase of TiO₂ is expected to provide a boost in its photoactivity in the visible region. In the present work the mixed phase Ag/TiO₂ photocatalyst showed large enhancement in the degradation of methylene blue compared to all the reference systems.     

Synthesis and characterization of ultrahigh crystalline TiO2 nanotubes

Ultrahigh crystalline TiO2 nanotubes were synthesized by hydrogen peroxide treatment of very low crystalline titania nanotubes (TiNT-as prepared), which were prepared with synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles by hydrothermal methods in an aqueous NaOH solution. Thus, prepared ultrahigh crystalline TiO2 nanotubes (TiNT-H2O2) showed comparable crystallinity with high crystalline TiO2 nanoparticles. The details of nanotubular structures were elucidated by high resolution-transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis in transmission electron microscopy (TEM-EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence (PL), and BET surface area. TiNT-H2O2 was found to be a multiwalled anatase phase only with an average outer diameter of approximately 8 nm and an inner diameter of approximately 5 nm and grown along the [001] direction to 500-700 nm long with an interlayer fringe distance of ca. 0.78 nm. The photocatalytic activity of TiNT-H2O2 was about 2-fold higher than those of TiNT-as prepared, synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles, and TiO2-P25 (Degussa) in the photocatalytic oxidation of trimethylamine gas under UV irradiation.     

CRYSTAL STRUCTURE OF [Cu(NH3)2]2[{Cu(NH3)}2{Cu(NH3)(OH)}Re6Se8(CN)6]

Journal of Structural Chemistry - Chain coordination polymer [Cu(NH3)2]2[{Cu(NH3)}2{Cu(NH3)(OH)}Re6Se8(CN)6] (1) is obtained by a reaction of Cs2.75K1.25[Re6Se8(CN)4(OH)2]·H2O with CuCN in the...     

Thermogravimetry of copper and copper oxides (Cu2O-CuO)

The thermogravimetry of mixtures of metallic copper and copper oxides was studied. The experiments were performed by heating the samples in air to 700–800° to transform all the components to copper(II) oxide, and continuing the heating in nitrogen to 1050–1100° when the dissociation of copper(II) oxide to copper(I) oxide is complete. The identification of the components and their quantitative determination were carried out by determining the shape, size, and ratio of the segments of the curves obtained during the heating. The method can be used for quantitative analysis of mixtures of copper and/or copper oxides.

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Zusammenfassung Gemische von metallischem Kupfer und Kupferoxiden wurden thermogravimetrisch untersucht. Zur Überführung aller Komponenten in Kupfer(II)-oxid erhitzte man sie in Luft auf 700–800°, um daraufhin bis zur vollständigen Dissoziation des Kupfer-(II)-oxids zu Kupfer(I)-oxid unter Stickstoff die Temperatur bis auf 1050–1100° zu steigern. Die Identifizierung der Komponenten und ihre quantitative Bestimmung erfolgten durch die Form, Größe und die Verhältnisse der verschiedenen Abschnitte der erhaltenen Kurven. Diese Methode ist zur quantitativen Bestimmung von Gemischen aus Kupfer und Kupferoxid sowie von Kupferoxiden geeignet.

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Résumé Étude thermogravimétrique de mélanges du cuivre métallique et d'oxydes de cuivre. Les échantillons sont d'abord chauffés dans l'air jusqu'à 700–800° jusqu'à ce que tous les constituants soient transformés en oxyde de cuivre(II); le chauffage est ensuite poursuivi dans l'azote jusqu'à 1010–1100°, où la dissociation de l'oxyde de cuivre(II) en oxyde de cuivre(I) est complète. Les constituants ont été identifiés et dosés en utilisant la forme, la dimension et les proportions des différentes parties des courbes pendant le chauffage. La méthode peut être utilisée pour l'analyse quantitative de mélanges de cuivre et ou d'oxydes de cuivre.

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. 700–800: ( (), 1050–1100° [ () (I)]. , , . / .

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The author wishes to acknowledge the financial assistance provided by the Technion — Israel Institute of Technology.The author wishes also to thank Dr. R. F. Tylecote (University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, England) for very helpful comments and useful discussions of this investigation and to Mrs. N. Leder for chemical analyses.     

A chemical precursor for depositing Sb(2)S(3) onto mesoporous TiO(2) layers in nonaqueous media and its application to solar cells

Deposition of nanocrystalline Sb(2)S(3) onto a mesoporous TiO(2) photoanode is an important process in the fabrication of Sb(2)S(3)-sensitized solar cells. In order to generate oxide-free nanosized Sb(2)S(3), a single-source precursor for the chemical bath deposition of Sb(2)S(3) in nonaqueous media, Sb(iii)(thioacetamide)(2)Cl(3), was synthesized and used to produce high-quality Sb(2)S(3) for solar cells.     

3D flower-like heterostructured TiO2@Ni(OH)2 microspheres for solar photocatalytic hydrogen production

TiO₂@Ni(OH)₂ core-shell microspheres were synthesized by a facile strategy to obtain a perfect 3D flower-like nanostructure with well-arranged Ni(OH)₂ nanoflakes on the surfaces of TiO₂ microspheres; this arrangement led to a six-fold enhancement in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. The unique p-n type heterostructure not only promotes the separation and transfer of photogenerated charge carriers significantly, but also offers more active sites for photocatalytic hydrogen production. A photocatalytic mechanism is proposed based on the results of electrochemical measurements and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.     

Bi2S3-sensitized TiO2 nanorods by bottom-up approach for photoelectrochemical solar cell

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Bismuth sulfide (Bi2S3)-sensitized titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanorods have been successfully synthesized by a simple and cost-effective chemical deposition...     

Synthese und Strukturen neuer selenido‐ und selenolatoverbrückter Kupfercluster: [Cu38Se13(SePh)12(dppb)6] (1), [Cu(dppp)2][Cu25Se4(SePh)18(dppp)2] (2), [Cu36Se5(SePh)26(dppa)4] (3), [Cu58Se16(SePh)24(dppa)6] (4) und [Cu3(SeMes)3(dppm)] (5)

Syntheses and Crystal Structures of new Selenido‐ and Selenolato‐bridged Copper Clusters: [Cu₃₈Se₁₃(SePh)₁₂(dppb)₆] (1), [Cu(dppp)₂][Cu₂₅Se₄(SePh)₁₈(dppp)₂] (2), [Cu₃₆Se₅(SePh)₂₆(dppa)₄] (3), [Cu₅₈Se₁₆(SePh)₂₄(dppa)₆] (4), and [Cu₃(SeMes)₃(dppm)] (5) The reactions of copper(I) chloride or copper(I) acetate with monodentate phosphine ligands (PR₃; R = organic group) and Se(SiMe₃)₂ have already lead to the formation of CuSe clusters with up to 146 copper and 73 selenium atoms. If the starting materials and the bidentate phosphine ligands (Ph₂P–(CH₂)_n–PPh₂, n = 1: dppm, n = 3: dppp, n = 4: dppb; Ph₂P–C≡C–PPh₂: dppa) and silylated chalcogen derivates are changed (RSeSiMe₃; R = Ph, Mes) a series of new CuSe clusters can be synthesized. From single crystal X‐ray structure analysis one can characterise [Cu₃₈Se₁₃(SePh)₁₂(dppb)₆] ( 1 ), [Cu(dppp)₂] · [Cu₂₅Se₄(SePh)₁₈(dppp)₂] ( 2 ), [Cu₃₆Se₅(SePh)₂₆(dppa)₄] ( 3 ), [Cu₅₈Se₁₆(SePh)₂₄(dppa)₆] ( 4 ) and [Cu₃(SeMes)₃(dppm)] ( 5 ). In this new class of CuSe clusters, compounds 1 and 4 possess a spherical cluster skeleton, wheras 2 and 3 have a layered cluster core.     

Mixed Cu2Se Hexagonal Nanosheets@Co3Se4 Nanospheres for High-Performance Asymmetric Supercapacitors

Rational designing and constructing multiphase hybrid electrode materials is an effective method to compensate for the performance defects of the single component. Based on this strategy, Cu₂Se hexagonal nanosheets@Co₃Se₄ nanospheres mixed structures have been fabricated by a facile two-step hydrothermal method. Under the synergistic effect of the high ionic conductivity of Cu₂Se and the remarkable cycling stability of Co₃Se₄, Cu₂Se@Co₃Se₄ can exhibit outstanding electrochemical performance as a novel electrode material. The as-prepared Cu₂Se@Co₃Se₄ electrode displays high specific capacitance of 1005 F g⁻¹ at 1 A g⁻¹ with enhanced rate capability (56 % capacitance retention at 10 A g⁻¹), and ultralong lifespan (94.2 % after 10 000 cycles at 20 A g⁻¹). An asymmetric supercapacitor is assembled applying the Cu₂Se@Co₃Se₄ as anode and graphene as cathode, which delivers a wide work potential window of 1.6 V, high energy density (30.9 Wh kg⁻¹ at 0.74 kW kg⁻¹), high power density (21.0 Wh kg⁻¹ at 7.50 kW kg⁻¹), and excellent cycling stability (85.8 % after 10 000 cycles at 10 A g⁻¹).     

Effect of TiO2 crystalline phase composition on the physicochemical and catalytic properties of Pd/TiO(2) in selective acetylene hydrogenation

Pd/TiO(2) catalysts have been prepared using TiO(2) supports consisting of various rutile/anatase crystalline phase compositions. Increasing percentages of rutile phase in the TiO(2) resulted in a decrease in Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface areas, fewer Ti(3+) sites, and lower Pd dispersion. While acetylene conversions were found to be merely dependent on Pd dispersion, ethylene selectivity appeared to be strongly affected by the presence of Ti(3+) in the TiO(2) samples. When TiO(2) samples with 0-44% rutile were used, high ethylene selectivities (58-93%) were obtained whereas ethylene losses occurred for those supported on TiO(2) with 85% or 100% rutile phase. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electron spin resonance experiments revealed that a significant amount of Ti(3+) existed in the TiO(2) samples composed of 0-44% rutile. The presence of Ti(3+) in contact with Pd can probably lower the adsorption strength of ethylene resulting in an ethylene gain. Among the five catalysts used in this study, the results for Pd/TiO(2)-R44 suggest an optimum anatase/rutile composition of the TiO(2) used to obtain high selectivity of ethylene in selective acetylene hydrogenation.