Facet-Control versus Co-Catalyst-Control in Photocatalytic H2 Evolution from Anatase TiO2 Nanocrystals

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and, in particular, its anatase polymorph, is widely studied for photocatalytic H₂ production. In the present work, we examine the importance of reactive facets of anatase crystallites on the photocatalytic H₂ evolution from aqueous methanol solutions. For this, we synthesized anatase TiO₂ nanocrystals with a large amount of either {001} facets, that is, nanosheets, or {101} facets, that is, octahedral nanocubes, and examined their photocatalytic H₂ evolution and then repeated this procedure with samples where Pt co-catalyst is present on all facets. Octahedral nanocubes with abundant {101} facets produce >4 times more H₂ than nanosheets enriched in {001} facets if the reaction is carried out under co-catalyst-free conditions. For samples that carry Pt co-catalyst on both {001} and {101} facets, faceting loses entirely its significance. This demonstrates that the beneficial role of faceting, namely the introduction of {101} facets that act as electron transfer mediator is relevant only for co-catalyst-free TiO₂ surfaces.     

Low temperature phase transition in ZnSe doped with nickel

Neutron diffraction and ultrasonic experiments as well as measurements of heat conductivity in ZnSe and Zn_1−xNi_xSe (x=0.0025) semiconductors have been carried out. As a result, a structural transition induced by Ni impurity has been found at      

Degenerations of cubic threefolds and matroids

We present a surprising connection between cubic threefolds and the well-known regular matroid by making use of intermediate Jacobians of cubic threefolds realized as Prym varieties. As a corollary we obtain a new proof of the nonrationality of generic cubic threefolds.

     

断裂力学的数值模拟

含有限裂纹的弹性板是裂纹理论中的基本问题,作者将著名的Ｄｉｎｅｓ,Ｐａｒｋｉｎ,Ｑｒｔｉｚ等的离散解与连续解Ｎｏｖｏｚｈｉｌｏｖ和Ｔｈｏｍｓｏｎ的杂交解进行了比较,对Ｔｈｏｍｓｏｎ与Ｎｏｖｏｚｈｉｌｏｖ的模型进行了全面的对比,分析了Ｎｏｖｏｚｈｉｌｏｖ的Ｒ－子数和Ｔｈｏｍｓｏｎ的点阵函数的特性,利用Ｔｈｏｍｓｏｎ模型证明了“断裂孤立子”理论的存在,解释了Ｃｈｅｒｎｙ－ｋｏｚｏｒｅｚｏｖ模型中的松驰     

Photochromic Free MOF-Based Near-Infrared Optical Switch

We demonstrate herein an all-optical switch based on stimuli-responsive and photochromic-free metal–organic framework (HKUST-1). Ultrafast near-infrared laser pulses stimulate a reversible 0.4 eV blue shift of the absorption band with up to 200 s⁻¹ rate due to dehydration and concomitant shrinking of the structure-forming [Cu₂C₄O₈] cages of HKUST-1. Such light-induced switching enables the remote modulation of intensities of photoluminescence of single crystals of HKUST-1 as well visible radiation passing through the crystal by 2 order of magnitude. This opens up the possibility of utilyzing stimuli-responsive MOFs for all-optical data processing devices.     

Status of deceleration and laser spectroscopy of highly charged ions at HITRAP

Heavy few-electron ions are relatively simple systems in terms of electron structure and offer unique opportunities to conduct experiments under extremely large electromagnetic fields that exist around their nuclei. However, the preparation of highly charged ions (HCI) has remained the major challenge for experiments. As an extension of the existing GSI accelerator facility, the HITRAP facility was conceived as a multi-stage decelerator for HCI produced at high velocity. It is designed to prepare bunches of around 10⁵ HCI and to deliver them at low energies to various experiments. One of these experiments is SpecTrap, aiming for laser spectroscopy of trapped, cold HCI. We present the latest results on deceleration of ions in a radio-frequency quadrupole, synchrotron cooling of electrons in a trap as a preparation step for the prospective electron cooling of the HCI decelerated in HITRAP, as well as laser cooling of singly charged Mg ions for sympathetic cooling of HCI in SpecTrap.     

Theoretical Treatment of Degenerate Electron Exchange and Dimerization in Spin Dynamics of Radical Ion Pairs as Observed by Magnetic Field Effects

In this work we have compared manifestations of degenerate electron exchange (DEE) and dimerization reactions in MARY (magnetically affected reaction yield) spectroscopy and time-resolved magnetic field effects (TR-MFE) of radical ion pairs (RIPs). It is shown that dimerization results in phase and frequency changes of the quantum beats in TR-MFE traces, whereas DEE leads to relaxation-type changes in the spin dynamics of RIPs. Dimerization does not change the width of MARY lines considerably, but leads to new lines corresponding to dimer radical ions. In contrast, DEE substantially changes the MARY line widths. Our treatment provides ways to discriminate between both processes from experimental MARY spectra and TR-MFE kinetics. An experimental example dealing with concentration-dependent broadening of the MARY lines is also discussed.