Enhancement of Solar Hydrogen Evolution from Water by Surface Modification with CdS and TiO2 on Porous CuInS2 Photocathodes Prepared by an Electrodeposition–Sulfurization Method

Porous films of p‐type CuInS₂, prepared by sulfurization of electrodeposited metals, are surface‐modified with thin layers of CdS and TiO₂. This specific porous electrode evolved H₂ from photoelectrochemical water reduction under simulated sunlight. Modification with thin n‐type CdS and TiO₂ layers significantly increased the cathodic photocurrent and onset potential through the formation of a p–n junction on the surface. The modified photocathodes showed a relatively high efficiency and stable H₂ production under the present reaction conditions.     

Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation from CdTe Photoanodes Annealed with CdCl2

Most CdTe photoanodes and photocathodes show positive and negative photocurrent onset potentials for water oxidation and reduction, respectively, and are thus unable to drive photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting without external applied biases. Herein, the activity of a CdTe photoanode having an internal p‐n junction during PEC water oxidation was enhanced by applying a CdCl₂ annealing treatment together with surface modifications. The resulting CdTe photoanode generated photocurrents of 1.8 and 5.4 mA cm^?2 at 0.6 and 1.2 V_RHE, respectively, with a photoanodic current onset potential of 0.22 V_RHE under simulated sunlight (AM 1.5G). The CdCl₂ annealing increased the grain sizes and lowered the density of grain boundaries, allowing more efficient charge separation. Consequently, a two‐electrode tandem PEC cell comprising a CdTe‐based photoanode and photocathode split water without any external bias at a solar‐to‐hydrogen conversion efficiency of 0.51 % at the beginning of the reaction.     

Cinemicrophotographic study of boiling of water-in-oil emulsions

Cinemicrophotography is applied to the boiling of emulsions of water dispersed in oils whose boiling points are higher than that of water. The layer of emulsion is made thin enough to make possible a microscopic observation by transmitted light through the layer. Two alternative processes of bubble formation are found: a periodical bubble formation at specified sites on the heated solid surface contacting the emulsion and a casual bubble formation some distance away from the surface. The basic mechanisms of those processes are discussed.     

Synthesis of silyl aziridines and alpha-amino acylsilanes with silyldibromomethyllithium

The reaction of silyldibromomethyllithium with aromatic imines provides alpha-amino acylsilanes via a bromo aziridine intermediate upon quenching the reaction with water. Alternatively, treatment of the bromo aziridine intermediate with various Grignard reagents or lithium aluminum hydride permits the nucleophilic displacement of the halogen to furnish substituted silyl aziridines.     

Tunneling chemical reactions in solid parahydrogen: direct measurement of the rate constants of R + H2 --> RH + H (R = CD3,CD2H,CDH2,CH3) at 5 K

Tunneling chemical reactions between deuterated methyl radicals and the hydrogen molecule in a parahydrogen crystal have been studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The tunneling rates of the reactions R + H2 --> RH + H (R = CD3,CD2H,CDH2) in the vibrational ground state were determined directly from the temporal change in the intensity of the rovibrational absorption bands of the reactants and products in each reaction in solid parahydrogen observed at 5 K. The tunneling rate of each reaction was found to differ definitely depending upon the degree of deuteration in the methyl radicals. The tunneling rates were determined to be 3.3 x 10(-6) s(-1), 2.0 x 10(-6) s(-1), and 1.0 x 10(-6) s(-1) for the systems of CD3, CD2H, and CDH2, respectively. Conversely, the tunneling reaction between a CH3 radical and the hydrogen molecule did not proceed within a week's time. The upper limit of the tunneling rate of the reaction of the CH3 radical was estimated to be 8 x 10(-8) s(-1).     

Superconducting microwave cavity towards controlling the motion of polar molecules

We propose the use of superconducting microwave cavities for the focusing and deceleration of cold polar molecular beams. A superconducting cavity with a high quality factor produces a large ac Stark shift in polar molecules, which allow us to efficiently control molecular motion. Our discussion is based on the experimental characterization of a prototype cavity: a lead–tin-coated cylindrical copper cavity, which has a quality factor of 10⁶ and tolerates several watts of input power. Such a microwave device provides a powerful way to control molecules not only in low-field-seeking states, but also in high-field-seeking states such as the ground rotational state.