Curing BiVO4 Photoanodes with Ultraviolet Light Enhances Photoelectrocatalysis

Exposure of BiVO₄ photoanodes to ultraviolet (UV) radiation for extended time periods (e.g., 20 h) produces a morphological change and concomitant improvement in photo‐electrocatalytic (PEC) efficiency for driving water splitting directly by sunlight. The ～230 mV cathodic shift in onset potential and doubling of the photocurrent at 1.23 V vs. RHE after UV curing are comparable to the effects engendered by the presence of a secondary catalyst layer. PEC measurements and absorption spectra indicate that the cathodic shift after UV curing corresponds to a suppression of charge recombination and a greater photovoltage generation caused by the shift of the flat‐band potential, and not an improvement in electrocatalytic activity or light absorption. Spectroscopic surface analysis suggests that surface defect sites, which are eliminated by UV curing, for the differences in observed charge recombination.     

Scalable Production of Ambient Stable Hybrid Bismuth-Based Materials: AACVD of Phenethylammonium Bismuth Iodide Films**

Large homogeneous and adherent coatings of phenethylammonium bismuth iodide were produced using the cost-effective and scalable aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD) methodology. The film morphology was found to depend on the deposition conditions and substrates, resulting in different optical properties to those reported from their spin-coated counterparts. Optoelectronic characterization revealed band bending effects occurring between the hybrid material and semiconducting substrates (TiO₂ and FTO) due to heterojunction formation, and the optical bandgap of the hybrid material was calculated from UV-visible and PL spectrometry to be 2.05 eV. Maximum values for hydrophobicity and crystallographic preferential orientation were observed for films deposited on FTO/glass substrates, closely followed by values from films deposited on TiO₂/glass substrates.     

Spectroscopic Study of the Molecular Structure of the New Hybrid with a Potential Two-Way Antibacterial Effect

Bacterial strains become resistant to almost all classes of antibiotics, which makes it necessary to look for new substitutes. The non-absorbable ciprofloxacin–biguanide bismuth complex, used locally, may be a good alternative to a conventional therapy. The purpose of this study was to study the structure of the proposed ciprofloxacin (CIP) -bismuth(III)—chlorhexidine (CHX) composite (CIP-Bi-CHX). The spectroscopic techniques such as UV-VIS (ultraviolet-visible) spectroscopy, FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared) spectroscopy and NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) spectroscopy were used for structure characterization of the hybrid compound. The performed analysis confirmed the presence of the two active components—CIP and CHX and revealed the possible coordination sites of the ligands with bismuth ion in the metallo-organic structure. Spectroscopic study showed that the complexation between Bi(III) and CIP occurs through the carboxylate and ketone groups of the quinolone ring, while CHX combines with the central ion via the biguanide moieties.     

锌掺杂对SrTiO_3光催化性能的影响

制备了锌掺杂的SrTiO3光催化剂,测试了掺杂样品在400 W高压汞灯照射下,分解纯水制氢的活性。考察了锌的掺杂量及样品的焙烧温度对其光催化活性的影响,并对掺锌与未掺杂样品进行了XRD、UV-vis、XPS及SEM表征分析。结果表明,Zn掺入可显著提高SrTiO3的光催化活性,适宜的锌掺杂摩尔分数为1%左右,相应的掺杂量下,适宜的焙烧温度为950℃左右,上述条件制得掺锌SrTiO3的产氢速率较未掺杂样品提高了120%左右。表征结果显示,掺摩尔分数1%的锌未改变SrTiO3的晶体结构及结晶完整性,但样品表面发生了锌的富集,而且在一定的掺杂范围内,锌掺杂使SrTiO3催化剂的粒度有所增大。推测掺入的Zn与存在于SrTiO3表面的富钛相反应生成Zn2TiO4,使SrTiO3表面的缺陷浓度降低,光催化活性提高。     

Electrodeposition and Thermoelectric Characteristics of Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>Te<Subscript>3</Subscript> and Sb<Subscript>2</Subscript>Te<Subscript>3</Subscript> Films for Thermopile Sensor Applications

A thermopile sensor was processed on a glass substrate by electrodeposition of n-type bismuth telluride (Bi-Te) and p-type antimony telluride (Sb-Te) films. The n-type Bi-Te film electrodeposited at −50 mV in a 50 mM electrolyte with a Bi/(Bi + Te) mole ratio of 0.5 exhibited a Seebeck coefficient of −51.6 μV/K and a power factor of 7.1 × 10⁻⁴ W/K² · m. The p-type Sb-Te film electroplated at 20 mV in a 70 mM solution with an Sb/(Sb + Te) mole ratio of 0.9 exhibited a Seebeck coefficient of 52.1 μV/K and a power factor of 1.7 × 10⁻⁴ W/K² · m. A thermopile sensor composed of 196 pairs of the p-type Sb-Te and the n-type Bi-Te thin-film legs exhibited sensitivity of 7.3 mV/K.     

Preparation of Al2TiO5-ZrO2 mixed powders via sol-gel process

Sol-gel routes in the ternary system Al₂O₃-TiO₅-ZrO₂ were investigated to prepare Al₂TiO₅-ZrO₂ mixed powders. The preparation of ZrTiO₄ and Al₂TiO₅ was studied before going on with the ternary system. Zirconium titanate precursor gels were prepared from Ti(OPrⁱ)₄ and Zr(OPrⁿ)₄ mixtures. The crystallization of ZrTiO₄ develops at T<700°C. Al₂TiO₅ was prepared by different ways, using mixtures of Al(OBu^s)₂(C₆H₉O₃) with Ti(OPr ⁱ )₄ (i), or with acetic acid addition (ii). Route (i) leads to a separate crystallization of TiO₂ and -Al₂O₃, with subsequent formation of -Al₂TiO₅ at T1360°C. Although the pseudobrookite -Al₂TiO₅ is thermodynamically unstable below 1280°C, route (ii) leads to the crystallization of metastable -Al₂TiO₅ at T800°C. At increasing temperature, -Al₂TiO₅ decomposes into TiO₂ and -Al₂O₃, then the two compounds react to form stable -Al₂TiO₅. For the ternary system, all the preparation routes which were studied lead to ZrTiO₄ and -Al₂O₃ with subsequent reaction (at T1500°C) to give -Al₂TiO₅ and ZrO₂.     

Structural evolution of nanostructured barium titanate thin film sol–gel derived

Ferroelectric nanostructured barium titanate (BT) thin films derived by a modified sol–gel process were formed by a deep coating method on Si (100) substrate. In this work was investigated the influence of different types and amounts of water (free water directly added in process and crystalline water from barium precursors) and of different barium precursors (hydroxide and acetate) on the gel-structure evolution and the barium titanate thin film crystallization. The IR-spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis were used for sample characterization. Experimental results show that crystalline water from barium hydroxide octahydrate stabilizes the cubic phase of barium titanate. Barium titanate crystallizes in the tetragonal form in thin films when sols were prepared with free water and Ba-acetate or Ba-hydroxide monohydrate as precursors. The type of Ba-precursor used in preparation of sols effects the rate of crystallization of the BT in thin films, making it slower in the case when as precursor was used Ba-acetate than Ba-hydroxides. The prepared BT-thin films demonstrated good adhesion towards substrate and were smooth and uniform.     

强电场作用下反铁电锆钛酸铅的介电行为研究

采用电滞回线方法和偏置直流电场中叠加小交变电场方法研究了锆钛酸铅反铁电陶瓷材料在强电场作用下的介电行为.测量结果显示，锆钛酸铅反铁电材料的介电常数随外加电场强度呈非线性变化，在反铁电 铁电转变的电场区间形成介电峰.表征极化强度随电场强度变化率的微分介电常数εd峰值出现在反铁电 铁电转换电场强度处，最高达到41000.随着偏置电场增加反铁电向铁电体转变过程中，小信号介电常数εc减小；在电场降低铁电回复成反铁电过程中，小信号介电常数εc增大，小信号介电常数εc峰先于微分介电常数εd峰出现.根据电场作用下反铁电 关键词： 锆钛酸铅反铁电陶瓷 介电行为 强电场条件     

硫掺杂钛酸(盐)纳米管的表征与可见光光催化活性

以二硫化钛为钛源和硫源,通过与NaOH水热反应成功制备了硫掺杂钛酸(盐)纳米管。 采用X射线衍射、高分辨透射电子显微镜、扫描电子显微镜、扩展X射线吸收精细结构(EXAFS)和X光微区分析等手段对所制备的硫掺杂钛酸(盐)纳米管的结构、形貌、硫掺杂状态和掺杂量进行了表征,并以可见光光催化氧化乙醇反应为探针,采用原位气相色谱技术研究了硫掺杂钛酸纳米管的可见光光催化活性;结果表明,S原子以S2-形式取代了钛酸纳米管骨架中O原子的位置, 有效实现了硫掺杂;硫掺杂钛酸(盐)纳米管壁厚平均尺寸为2.9 nm,管径平均尺寸为9.7 nm。 可见光光催化氧化乙醇反应结果表明,掺硫钛酸纳米管在极低的掺硫量条件下,表现出比未掺杂的二氧化钛纳米管具有更高的可见光光催化活性。