Spectroscopies and Electron Microscopies Unravel the Origin of the First Colour Photographs

The first colour photographs were created by a process introduced by Edmond Becquerel in 1848. The nature of these photochromatic images colours motivated a debate between scientists during the XIX^th century, which is still not settled. We present the results of chemical analysis (EDX, HAXPES and EXAFS) and morphology studies (SEM, STEM) aiming at explaining the optical properties of the photochromatic images (UV‐visible spectroscopy and low loss EELS). We rule out the two hypotheses (pigment and interferences) that have prevailed since 1848, respectively based on variations in the oxidation degree of the compound forming the sensitized layer and periodically spaced photolytic silver planes. A study of the silver nanoparticles dispersions contained in the coloured layers showed specific localizations and sizes distributions of the nanoparticles for each colour. These results allow us to formulate a plasmonic hypothesis on the origin of the photochromatic images colours.     

Electron Transfer in Peptides: On the Formation of Silver Nanoparticles

Some microorganisms perform anaerobic mineral respiration by reducing metal ions to metal nanoparticles, using peptide aggregates as medium for electron transfer (ET). Such a reaction type is investigated here with model peptides and silver as the metal. Surprisingly, Ag⁺ ions bound by peptides with histidine as the Ag⁺‐binding amino acid and tyrosine as photoinducible electron donor cannot be reduced to Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) under ET conditions because the peptide prevents the aggregation of Ag atoms to form AgNPs. Only in the presence of chloride ions, which generate AgCl microcrystals in the peptide matrix, does the synthesis of AgNPs occur. The reaction starts with the formation of 100 nm Ag@AgCl/peptide nanocomposites which are cleaved into 15 nm AgNPs. This defined transformation from large nanoparticles into small ones is in contrast to the usually observed Ostwald ripening processes and can be followed in detail by studying time‐resolved UV/Vis spectra which exhibit an isosbestic point.     

Spectroscopies and Electron Microscopies Unravel the Origin of the First Colour Photographs

The first colour photographs were created by a process introduced by Edmond Becquerel in 1848. The nature of these photochromatic images colours motivated a debate between scientists during the XIX^th century, which is still not settled. We present the results of chemical analysis (EDX, HAXPES and EXAFS) and morphology studies (SEM, STEM) aiming at explaining the optical properties of the photochromatic images (UV-visible spectroscopy and low loss EELS). We rule out the two hypotheses (pigment and interferences) that have prevailed since 1848, respectively based on variations in the oxidation degree of the compound forming the sensitized layer and periodically spaced photolytic silver planes. A study of the silver nanoparticles dispersions contained in the coloured layers showed specific localizations and sizes distributions of the nanoparticles for each colour. These results allow us to formulate a plasmonic hypothesis on the origin of the photochromatic images colours.     

光量热法初探甲基橙光催化原位降解过程

通过在室温下还原前驱体制备了Ag@AgCl催化剂, 并利用X射线粉末衍射仪(XRD)和场发射扫描电子显微镜(FE-SEM)对产物进行表征. 设计了新型光化学-微热量系统, 用该系统获得了Ag@AgCl光催化降解甲基橙实时、 在线的热力学和动力学瞬态信息. 研究结果表明, 该降解过程首先经历吸热再迅速进入放热阶段, 最后曲线恒定于一个长的放热平台, 计算得到ab, ac和ad段的热效应分别为-0.2609, 2.5845和40.7289 J, 放热平台cd的平均速率为2.581 mJ/s, 并详细探讨了该过程的微观降解机制.     

可见光驱动Ag@AgCl催化反应的原位微量热研究

室温下用葡萄糖还原前驱体AgCl制备了可见光驱动的表面负载Ag纳米颗粒(NPs)催化剂Ag@AgCl,并采用X射线衍射(XRD)、场发射扫描电镜(FE-SEM)对其形貌、组成和结构进行了表征.首次运用自主设计的新型光化学-微量热系统,获取了三个功率光催化降解甲基橙的原位特征热谱曲线和原位热动力学精细信息,并与紫外-可见光谱获得的动力学信息关联,结合甲基橙逐步被氧化降解的特征,讨论了光催化降解机理.结果表明:光催化降解过程首先是偶氮双键在光的作用下迅速吸热断裂,再进入氧化降解中间产物的放热阶段,最后以恒定的速率长时间放热.光催化反应主要受光功率大小、粒子的传质以及活性氧化物种产生的速率等共同影响.随着光功率减小,光催化反应速率减缓,体系热效应的特征变化出现滞后现象,达到最大吸、放热峰及甲基橙完全降解所需时间延长.     

Controllable synthesis,characterization and optical properties of Ag@AgCl coaxial core‐shell nanocables

Core‐shell structures often exhibit improved physical and chemical properties. Developing a relatively general, facile, and low temperature synthetic approach for core‐shell structures with complex compositions is still a particularly challenging work. Here we report a general chemical conversion route to prepare high quality Ag@AgCl coaxial core‐shell nanocables via the redox reaction between Ag nanowires and FeCl₃ in solution. The powder X‐ray diffraction of the Ag@AgCl coaxial core‐shell nanocables shows additional diffraction peaks corresponding to AgCl crystals apart from the signals from the Ag nanowire cores. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy images of the Ag@AgCl coaxial core‐shell nanocables reveal that the Ag nanowires are coated with AgCl nanoparticles. The effect of the molar ratio of Fe:Ag on the morphology and optical absorption of the Ag@AgCl coaxial core‐shell nanocables is systematically investigated. The result shows that the optical absorption of Ag nanowires decreases gradually and that of AgCl nanoparticles improves gradually with the increase of the molar ratio of Fe:Ag. The formation process of the Ag@AgCl coaxial core‐shell nanocables has been discussed in detail. The present chemical conversion approach is expected to be employed in a broad range of applications to fabricate innovative core‐shell structures with different compositions and shapes for unique properties. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)