Relation between Morphology and Photoelectrochemical Performance of TiO2 Nanotubes Arrays Grown in Ethylene Glycol/Water

The TiO₂ nanotube films were prepared by anodizing Ti plates in 0.2 M NH₄F ethylene glycol/10% H₂O under different formation voltages keeping fixed the time length, or by keeping fixed the formation voltage and varying the time length. The morphology of the TiO₂ film obtained was observed by SEM images and different morphological parameters were derived from them. Furthermore, the optical and semiconducting properties of TiO₂ films were also measured. The photoelectrochemical performance toward water oxidation of the TiO₂ only showed to be dependent with the inner diameter of the nanotubes, that could be related to the interaction of the film with the light and the transport of species in the electrolyte inward or outward the film.     

Photo-Induced Ultrafast Electron Dynamics in Anatase and Rutile TiO2: Effects of Electron-Phonon Interaction

The photo-induced ultrafast electron dynamics in both anatase and rutile TiO\begin{document}$_{2}$\end{document} are investigated by using the Boltzmann transport equation with the explicit incorporation of electron-phonon scattering rates. All structural parameters required for dynamic simulations are obtained from ab initio calculations. The results show that although the longitudinal optical modes significantly affect the electron energy relaxation dynamics in both phases due to strong Fr?hlich-type couplings, the detailed relaxation mechanisms have obvious differences. In the case of a single band, the energy relaxation time in anatase is 24.0 fs, twice longer than 11.8 fs in rutile. This discrepancy is explained by the different diffusion distributions over the electronic Bloch states and different scattering contributions from acoustic modes in the two phases. As for the multiple-band situation involving the lowest six conduction bands, the predicted overall relaxation times are about 47 fs and 57 fs in anatase and rutile, respectively, very different from the case of the single band. The slower relaxation in rutile is attributed to the existence of multiple rate-controlled steps during the dynamic process. The present findings may be helpful to control the electron dynamics for designing efficient TiO\begin{document}$_{2}$\end{document}-based devices.     

Electrochemical energy for living systems

Plastoquinone and ubiquinone play essential roles in the electron transport chains of chloroplasts and mitochondria by coupling electron transport to the transfer of protons across membranes. The energy of the resulting proton gradient is used to synthesize adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy currency of all life. How did quinones first become involved in this process? We have detected several quinone compounds in carbonaceous meteorites that can transport protons in a liposome model system. It is possible that such compounds were available to transport protons in primitive versions of electron transport in early life.     

On the potentiality of a cluster-beam source to produce free-standing one-dimensional and two-dimensional FeAg nanostructures: mechanisms underlying their shape genesis

Controlling the morphology and composition of one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) assemblies of matter is essential to design and create nanostructures with exceptional material properties, for applications ranging from nanoelectronics to nanomedicine. Within this latter, a great interest is placed on assembling magnetoplasmonic nanostructures to enable multimodal biosensing and bioimaging for early diagnosis and prognosis of diseases. To date, the synthesis of such complex nanostructures is mostly relying on wet chemistry and templates. Herein, we employed a templateless physical method to generate FeAg-based anisotropic nanostructures, using a modified cluster source. Under tuned experimental conditions, we demonstrated the successful magnetic-assisted assembly of Fe nanoclusters (Fe NCs), to form stable and permanent branched Fe nanorods (Fe NRs), core@shell Fe@Ag-NRs, Fe nanosheets (Fe NSs), and Fe/Ag-NSs. This assembly is driven by the need to reduce their magnetic interaction energy on one hand and their overall surface energy on the other hand. When NCs and NRs are magnetically brought into intimate contact, they undergo a coalescence process, through the interfacial diffusion of the surface atoms, resulting in the formation of 1D and 2D nanostructures. For Fe@Ag NRs, the advantage conferred by the Ag shell is to protect Fe NRs from oxidation and prevent them from aggregation at the same time. The observed contrast reversal in Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images of Fe NRs and Fe NSs is discussed.     

Prandtl Number in Classical Hard-Sphere and One-Component Plasma Fluids

The Prandtl number is evaluated for the three-dimensional hard-sphere and one-component plasma fluids, from the dilute weakly coupled regime up to a dense strongly coupled regime near the fluid-solid phase transition. In both cases, numerical values of order unity are obtained. The Prandtl number increases on approaching the freezing point, where it reaches a quasi-universal value for simple dielectric fluids of about ≃1.7. Relations to two-dimensional fluids are briefly discussed.     

Charge transport in anodic TiO2 nanotubes studied by terahertz spectroscopy

We report on the photoelectrochemical and terahertz measurements, of the charge transport properties of 1 μm thick self‐organized TiO₂ nanotube layers, prepared by the anodization of titanium. We provide evidence regarding the complexity of electron transport, and dynamics in the nanotubes. Shortly after photoexcitation, charge mobilites in amorphous and crystalline nanotubes are similar, but still lower compared to the bulk anatase. The mobility subsequently decreases due to trapping‐detrapping processes. The recombination rate in anatase nanotubes is much slower than in the amorphous ones, enabling the material to reach an internal photon to electron conversion efficiency exceeding 60%.     

Single-electron coherence: Finite temperature versus pure dephasing

We analyze a coherent injection of single electrons on top of the Fermi sea in two situations, at finite-temperature and in the presence of pure dephasing. Both finite-temperature and pure dephasing change the property of the injected quantum states from pure to mixed. However, we show that the temperature-induced mixedness does not alter the coherence properties of these single-electron states. In particular two such mixed states exhibit perfect antibunching while colliding at an electronic wave splitter. This is in striking difference with the dephasing-induced mixedness which suppresses antibunching. On the contrary, a single-particle shot noise is suppressed at finite temperatures but is not affected by pure dephasing. This work therefore extends the investigation of the coherence properties of single-electron states to the case of mixed states and clarifies the difference between different types of mixedness.     

Reprint of : Single-electron coherence: Finite temperature versus pure dephasing

We analyze a coherent injection of single electrons on top of the Fermi sea in two situations, at finite-temperature and in the presence of pure dephasing. Both finite-temperature and pure dephasing change the property of the injected quantum states from pure to mixed. However, we show that the temperature-induced mixedness does not alter the coherence properties of these single-electron states. In particular two such mixed states exhibit perfect antibunching while colliding at an electronic wave splitter. This is in striking difference with the dephasing-induced mixedness which suppresses antibunching. On the contrary, a single-particle shot noise is suppressed at finite temperatures but is not affected by pure dephasing. This work therefore extends the investigation of the coherence properties of single-electron states to the case of mixed states and clarifies the difference between different types of mixedness.