Non-classical correlation of the two emission fields by a four-level atomic ensemble

The normalized second-order correlation of the emission fields from a driven four-level atomic ensemble is investigated theoretically by using the state vector method. The violation of Cauchy-Schwarz inequality, which indicates the establishment of non-classical correlation between two emission fields, has been found. The effects of various decays and time delay on the correlation are discussed in detail, which are helpful in finding the ways to obtain high non-classical correlation. This technique for the generation of non-classical light is operable based on the current experimental technology and will lead to some potential applications in quantum information science.     

Generation of a four-qubit cluster state for atoms in a thermal cavity

We propose two schemes for generating a four-atom cluster state in a thermal cavity. With the assistant of a strong classical field the photon-number-dependent parts in the effective Hamiltonian are canceled. Thus the schemes are insensitive to the thermal field. The schemes can also be used to generate the cluster state for the trapped ions in thermal motion.     

多种纳米结构Fe掺杂TiO2光热耦合水分解制氢研究

氧空位是材料缺陷工程的重要组成. 基于光生氧空位的直接热利用, 实现纯水分解制氢的光热耦合实验, 被认为是太阳能综合利用的有效途径. 以多种制备方法合成的TiO₂纳米材料为基础, 研究了多种形貌纳米TiO₂及其Fe掺杂改性材料的光热耦合反应能力. 通过高分辨透射电子显微镜(HRTEM)、 X射线衍射(XRD)和电子顺磁共振(EPR)对晶体特征进行表征, 利用漫反射光谱(DRS)、 光致发光(PL)和三电极测试法表征了材料的性能, 并结合密度泛函理论(DFT)计算了产氢反应路径. 研究结果表明, 溶胶-凝胶法制备的纳米颗粒相比水热法制备的纳米片及纳米线, 体相内缺陷较多, 载流子强度高, 光热耦合产氢效果较差. Fe掺杂改性扩展了光响应, 增强了载流子分离和寿命, 降低了电子传输阻抗, 利于光反应过程中光生氧空位的形成, 克服了制氢反应中的关键能垒. 同时, 纳米材料中的缺陷促进了Fe离子的有效掺杂, Fe掺杂TiO₂纳米颗粒的光热耦合平均产氢量为9.73 μmol/g, 性能提升达13倍.     

超薄骨架有序介孔CdS/NiS的制备及光催化产氢性能

采用有序介孔氧化硅为硬模板, 通过纳米浇筑法制备了由螺旋骨架构建的有序介孔硫化镉(CdS)光 催化材料. 该光催化材料具有约5 nm厚的超薄骨架和大的比表面积(238 m²/g), 能有效缩短光催化反应中 光生电荷迁移到表面进行反应的距离并同时提供更多的反应活性位点, 从而增强光催化性能. 通过原位化学沉积法将不同量的助催化剂硫化镍(NiS)沉积到有序介孔CdS表面, 得到了一系列超薄骨架有序介孔CdS/NiS复合光催化材料. 可见光照射下的光催化产氢活性测试结果表明, 负载适量NiS的有序介孔CdS具有显著增强的光催化产氢活性(3.84 mmol?h^-1?g^-1), 约为负载相同量NiS的普通商业化CdS材料(0.22 mmol?h^-1?g^-1)的17.5倍.     

Redox-Mediated Alcohol Oxidation Coupled to Hydrogen Gas Formation in a Dye-Sensitized Photosynthesis Cell

This work reports a dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical cell (DSPEC) that couples redox-mediated light-driven oxidative organic transformations to reductive hydrogen (H₂) formation. The DSPEC photoanode consists of a mesoporous anatase TiO₂ film on FTO (fluorine-doped tin oxide), sensitized with the thienopyrroledione-based dye AP11 , while H₂ was formed at a FTO-Pt cathode. Irradiation of the dye-sensitized photoanode transforms 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine 1-oxyl (TEMPO) to the oxidized TEMPO (TEMPO⁺), which acts as a chemical oxidant for the conversion of benzyl alcohol. The TEMPO^0/+ couple, previously used as redox mediator in DSSC, mediates efficient electron transfer from the organic substrate to the photo-oxidized dye. A DSPEC photoreactor was designed that allows in situ monitoring the reaction progress by infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography. Sustained light-driven oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde within the DSPEC photoreactor, using of TEMPO as mediator, demonstrated the efficiency of the device, with a photocurrent of 0.4 mA cm⁻², approaching quantitative Faradaic efficiency and exhibiting excellent device stability.     

Recent advances in bismuth vanadate-based photocatalysts for photoelectrochemical water splitting

Photoelectrochemical(PEC) technology is considered to be a promising approach for solar-driven hydrogen production with zero emissions. Bismuth vanadate(BiVO_4) is a kind of photocatalytic material with strong photoactivity in the visible light region and appropriate band gap for PEC water splitting.However, the solar-to-hydrogen efficiency(STH) of BiVO_4 is far away from the 10% target needed for practical application due to its poor charge separation ability. Therefore, this review attempts to summarize the strategies for improving the photocurrent density and especially hydrogen production of BiVO_4 materials through PEC techniques in the last three years, such as doping nonmetal and metal elements, depositing noble metals, constructing heterojunctions, coupling with carbon and metalorganic framework(MOF) materials to further enhance the PEC performance of BiVO_4 photoanode. This review aims to serve as a general guideline to fabricate highly efficient BiVO_4-based materials for PEC water splitting.     

Dynamics and optimal control in a spatially structured economic growth model with pollution diffusion and environmental taxation

In the first part of this paper we present a spatially structured dynamic economic growth model which takes into account the level of pollution and a possible taxation based on the amount of produced pollution. In the second part we analyze an optimal harvesting control problem with an objective function composed of three terms, namely the intertemporal utility of the decision maker, the space–time average of the level of pollution in the habitat, and the disutility due to the imposition of taxation.     

Enzyme Design from the Bottom Up: An Active Nickel Electrocatalyst with a Structured Peptide Outer Coordination Sphere

Catalytic, peptide‐containing metal complexes with a well‐defined peptide structure have the potential to enhance molecular catalysts through an enzyme‐like outer coordination sphere. Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of an active, peptide‐based metal complex built upon the well‐characterized hydrogen production catalyst [Ni(P^Ph₂N^Ph)₂]²⁺ (P^Ph₂N^Ph=1,3,6‐triphenyl‐1‐aza‐3,6‐diphosphacycloheptane). The incorporated peptide maintains its β‐hairpin structure when appended to the metal core, and the electrocatalytic activity of the peptide‐based metal complex (≈100,000 s^?1) is enhanced compared to the parent complex ([Ni(P^Ph₂N^APPA)₂]²⁺; ≈50,500 s^‐1). The combination of an active molecular catalyst with a structured peptide provides a scaffold that permits the incorporation of features of an enzyme‐like outer‐coordination sphere necessary to create molecular electrocatalysts with enhanced functionality.     

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.