Persistent photocatalysis of continuously flowing gas-phase nitric oxide using CaAl2O4:(Eu,Nd)/rutile phase TiO2−x N y composites

CaAl₂O₄:(Eu,Nd)/rutile phase TiO_2?x N _y composites were synthesized via a two-step method, i.e. a solvothermal reaction followed by a mechanochemical treatment. The photocatalytic deNO _x activity of the composites was evaluated under UV light (λ > 290 nm) irradiation and after turning off the UV light. It was confirmed that rutile phase TiO_2?x N _y nanoparticles could be uniformly dispersed on the surface of CaAl₂O₄:(Eu,Nd) after planetary ball milling treatment. The composites prepared by this two-step method had high photocatalytic activity and good prolonged catalysis time even after turning off the light.     

Engineering Multifunctional Capsules through the Assembly of Metal–Phenolic Networks

Metal–organic coordination materials are of widespread interest because of the coupled benefits of inorganic and organic building blocks. These materials can be assembled into hollow capsules with a range of properties, which include selective permeability, enhanced mechanical/thermal stability, and stimuli‐responsiveness. Previous studies have primarily focused on the assembly aspects of metal‐coordination capsules; however, the engineering of metal‐specific functionality for capsule design has not been explored. A library of functional metal–phenolic network (MPN) capsules prepared from a phenolic ligand (tannic acid) and a range of metals is reported. The properties of the MPN capsules are determined by the coordinated metals, allowing for control over film thickness, disassembly characteristics, and fluorescence behavior. Furthermore, the functional properties of the MPN capsules were tailored for drug delivery, positron emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and catalysis. The ability to incorporate multiple metals into MPN capsules demonstrates that a diverse range of functional materials can be generated.     

An all-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell-based poly(N-alkyl-4-vinyl-pyridine iodide) electrolyte with efficiency of 5.64%

Using poly(N-methyl-4-vinyl-pyridine iodide), N-methyl-pyridine iodide and iodine, a solid polymer electrolyte with conductivity of 6.41 mS/cm is prepared. On the basis of a solid polymer electrolyte, a conducting graphite layer, a KI block layer, and a vacuum assembling technique, we achieve an all-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell with total photoelectric conversion efficiency of 5.64% under AM 1.5 simulated solar light (100 mW/cm2) illumination.     

Soft solution synthesis of a zinc oxide nano-screw superstructure and its composite with nitrogen-doped titania

Novel zinc oxide thin films with nano-screw superstructure were prepared via a soft solution route without any polymer additives. A ZnO thin film could be produced directly on the substrates. The ZnO thin film with nano-screw superstructure was prepared using visible-light-induced nitrogen-doped titania nano-particles. The ZnO nano-screw/TiO_2−x N _y composite film showed excellent photocatalytic deNO _x ability and quantum efficient.