Simultaneous Hydrogen Generation and Exciplex Stimulated Emission in Photobasic Carbon Dots

Photocatalytic water splitting is a promising approach to generating sustainable hydrogen. However, the transport of photoelectrons to the catalyst sites, usually within ps-to-ns timescales, is much faster than proton delivery (∼μs), which limits the activity. Therefore, the acceleration of abstraction of protons from water molecules towards the catalytic sites to keep up with the electron transfer rate can significantly promote hydrogen production. The photobasic effect that is the increase in proton affinity upon excitation offers means to achieve this objective. Herein, we design photobasic carbon dots and identify that internal pyridinic N sites are intrinsically photobasic. This is supported by steady-state and ultrafast spectroscopic measurements that demonstrate proton abstraction within a few picoseconds of excitation. Furthermore, we show that in water, they form a unique four-level lasing scheme with optical gain and stimulated emission. The latter competes with photocatalysis, revealing a rather unique mechanism for efficiency loss, such that the stimulated emission can act as a toggle for photocatalytic activity. This provides additional means of controlling the photocatalytic process and helps the rational design of photocatalytic materials.     

Static Subcategories of the Module Category of a Finite-Dimensional Hereditary Algebra

Let k be a field, Λ a finite-dimensional hereditary k-algebra, and modΛ the category of all finite-dimensional Λ-modules. We are going to characterize the representation type of Λ (tame or wild) in terms of the possible subcategories statM of all M-static modules, where M is an indecomposable Λ-module.     

Functions: a modelling tool in mathematics and science

It is difficult for the students to transfer concepts, ideas and procedures learned in mathematics to a new and unanticipated situation in science. An alternative to this traditional transfer method stresses the importance of modelling activities in an interdisciplinary context between mathematics and science. In the paper we introduce a modelling approach to the concept of function in upper secondary school is introduced. We discuss pedagogical and didactical issues concerning the interplay between mathematics and science. The discussion is crystallized into a didactical model for interdisciplinary instruction in mathematics and science. The model is considered as an iterative movement with two phases: (1) the horizontal linking of the subjects: Situations from science are embedded in contexts which are mathematized by the students, (2) the vertical structuring in the subjects: The conceptual anchoring of the students' constructs from the horizontal linking in the systematic and framework of mathematics and science respectively.     

Sums of Five Almost Equal Prime Squares

Let Pi, 1≤i≤5, be prime numbers. It is proved that every integer N that satisfies N=5 （mod 24） can be written as N=p1^2＋p2^2＋P3^2＋p4^2 ＋p5^2, where │√N5-Pi│≤N^1/2-19/850＋∈.     

The structure of some virtually free pro- groups

We prove two conjectures on pro- groups made by Herfort, Ribes and Zalesskii. The first says that a finitely generated pro- group which has an open free pro- subgroup of index is a free pro- product , where the are free pro- of finite rank and the are cyclic of order . The second says that if is a free pro- group of finite rank and is a finite -group of automorphisms of , then is a free factor of . The proofs use cohomology, and in particular a ``Brown theorem' for profinite groups.

     

Approximation of local convoluted semigroups

We extend the Trotter-Kato theorem on C₀-semigroups to local convoluted semigroups on dual spaces and apply these results to the general Banach space setting. Compared to known results we obtain weaker convergence assumptions on the resolvent.     

Limits of families of Brieskorn lattices and compactified classifying spaces

We investigate variations of Brieskorn lattices over non-compact parameter spaces, and discuss the corresponding limit objects on the boundary divisor. We study the associated variation of twistors and the corresponding limit mixed twistor structures. We construct a compact classifying space for regular singular Brieskorn lattices and prove that its pure polarized part carries a natural hermitian structure and that the induced distance makes it into a complete metric space.