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Fe(III) oxides were prepared as free nanoparticles and on DNA templates via the precipitation of Fe(III) salts with NaOH in the presence/absence of DNA. Through control of the pH and temperature, FeOOH and Fe2O3 were synthesised. The formation of templated materials FeOOH/DNA and Fe2O3/DNA was confirmed using UV-Vis absorption and FTIR spectra. The direct optical gap of Fe2O3/DNA was estimated as 3.2 eV; the absorption by FeOOH/DNA and Fe2O3/DNA at longer wavelengths is weaker, but consistent with indirect gaps near 2 eV. X-ray photoelectron spectra confirmed the presence of Fe(III) and DNA in the templated samples. Analysis of the X-ray diffraction patterns of both templated and non-templated FeOOH and Fe2O3 demonstrated that the materials were the α-FeOOH and α-Fe2O3 polymorphs with crystallite diameters of the DNA-templated materials estimated as 7.6 nm and 6.8 nm. Transmission electron microscopy showed needle-like crystals of both FeOOH and Fe2O3, but the Fe2O3 contains some globular structures. In contrast, the morphology of FeOOH/DNA and Fe2O3/DNA consists of needle-like crystallites of the respective oxides organised into complex dendritic structures with a length on the 10 μm scale formed by the DNA molecules. Finally, scanned conductance microscopy provided evidence for the conductivity of the FeOOH/DNA after alignment via molecular combing on an Si/SiO2 substrate. Fe2O3/DNA did not exhibit any detectable conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is usually difficult to realize high mobility together with a low threshold voltage and good stability for amorphous oxide thin-film transistors (TFTs). In addition, a low fabrication temperature is preferred in terms of enhancing compatibility with the back end of line of the device. In this study, α-IGZO TFTs were prepared by high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) at room temperature. The channel was prepared under a two-step deposition pressure process to modulate its electrical properties. X-ray photoelectron spectra revealed that the front-channel has a lower Ga content and a higher oxygen vacancy concentration than the back-channel. This process has the advantage of balancing high mobility and a low threshold voltage of the TFT when compared with a conventional homogeneous channel. It also has a simpler fabrication process than that of a dual active layer comprising heterogeneous materials. The HiPIMS process has the advantage of being a low temperature process for oxide TFTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continuous production of high-quality, few-layer graphene nanosheets (GNSs) functionalized with nitrogen-containing groups was achieved via a two-stage reaction method. The initial stage produces few-layer GNSs by utilizing our recently developed glycine-bisulfate ionic complex-assisted electrochemical exfoliation of graphite. The second stage, developed here, uses a radical initiator and nitrogen precursor (azobisisobutyronitrile) under microwave conditions in an aqueous solution for the efficient nitrogen functionalization of the initially formed GNSs. These nitrile radical reactions have great advantages in green chemistry and soft processing. Raman spectra confirm the insertion of nitrogen functional groups into nitrogen-functionalized graphene (N-FG), whose disorder is higher than that of GNSs. X-ray photoelectron spectra confirm the insertion of edge/surface nitrogen functional groups. The insertion of nitrogen functional groups is further confirmed by the enhanced dispersibility of N-FG in dimethyl formamide, ethylene glycol, acetonitrile, and water. Indeed, after the synthesis of N-FG in solution, it is possible to disperse N-FG in these liquid dispersants just by a simple washing–centrifugation separation–dispersion sequence. Therefore, without any drying, milling, and redispersion into liquid again, we can produce N-FG ink with only solution processing. Thus, the present work demonstrates the 'continuous solution processing' of N-FG inks without complicated post-processing conditions. Furthermore, the formation mechanism of N-FG is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semiconductor photocatalysts are essential materials in the field of environmental remediation. Various photocatalysts have been developed to solve the contamination problem of norfloxacin in water pollution. Among them, a crucial ternary photocatalyst, BiOCl, has attracted extensive attention due to its unique layered structure. In this work, high-crystallinity BiOCl nanosheets were prepared using a one-step hydrothermal method. The obtained BiOCl nanosheets showed good photocatalytic degradation performance, and the degradation rate of highly toxic norfloxacin using BiOCl reached 84% within 180 min. The internal structure and surface chemical state of BiOCl were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV–visible diffuse reflectance (UV-vis), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), and photoelectric techniques. The higher crystallinity of BiOCl closely aligned molecules with each other, which improved the separation efficiency of photogenerated charges and showed high degradation efficiency for norfloxacin antibiotics. Furthermore, the obtained BiOCl nanosheets possess decent photocatalytic stability and recyclability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a facile low-cost method to produce nitrogen-doped holey graphene (N-HGE) and its application to supercapacitors. A composite of N-HGE and activated carbon (AC) was used as the electrode active material in organic-electrolyte supercapacitors, and the performances were evaluated. Melamine was mixed into graphite oxide (GO) as the N source, and an ultra-rapid heating method was used to create numerous holes during the reduction process of GO. X-ray photoelectron spectra confirmed the successful doping with 2.9–4.5 at.% of nitrogen on all samples. Scanning electron micrographs and Raman spectra revealed that a higher heating rate resulted in more holes and defects on the reduced graphene sheets. An extra annealing step at 1000 °C for 1 h was carried out to further eliminate residual oxygen functional groups, which are undesirable in the organic electrolyte system. Compared to the low-heating-rate counterpart (N-GE-15), N-HGE boosted the specific capacity of the supercapacitor by 42 and 22% at current densities of 0.5 and 20 A/g, respectively. The effects of annealing time (0.5, 1, and 2 h) at 1000 °C were also studied. Longer annealing time resulted in higher capacitance values at all current densities due to the minimized oxygen content. Volumetric specific capacitances of 49 and 24 F/cm3 were achieved at current densities of 0.5 and 20 A/g, respectively. For the high-power-density operation at 31,000 W/kg (or 10,000 W/L), an energy density as high as 11 Wh/kg (or 3.5 Wh/L) was achieved. The results indicated that N-HGE not only improved the conductivity of the composite supercapacitors but also accelerated ion transport by way of shortened diffusion paths through the numerous holes all over the graphene sheets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface atomic arrangement and physical properties of aluminum ultrathin layers on c-Si(111)-7 × 7 and hydrogen-terminated c-Si(111)-1 × 1 surfaces deposited using molecular beam epitaxy were investigated. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectra were collected in two configurations (take-off angle of 0° and 45°) to precisely determine the surface species. Moreover, 3D atomic force microscopy (AFM) images of the air-exposed samples were acquired to investigate the clustering formations in film structure. The deposition of the Al layers was monitored in situ using a reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED) experiments to confirm the surface crystalline structure of the c-Si(111). The analysis of the RHEED patterns during the growth process suggests the settlement of aluminum atoms in Al(111)-1 × 1 clustered formations on both types of surfaces. The surface electrical conductivity in both configurations was tested against atmospheric oxidation. The results indicate differences in conductivity based on the formation of various alloys on the surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The derivatization of graphene to engineer its band structure is a subject of significant attention nowadays, extending the frames of graphene material applications in the fields of catalysis, sensing, and energy harvesting. Yet, the accurate identification of a certain group and its effect on graphene's electronic structure is an intricate question. Herein, we propose the advanced fingerprinting of the epoxide and hydroxyl groups on the graphene layers via core-level methods and reveal the modification of their valence band (VB) upon the introduction of these oxygen functionalities. The distinctive contribution of epoxide and hydroxyl groups to the C 1s X-ray photoelectron spectra was indicated experimentally, allowing the quantitative characterization of each group, not just their sum. The appearance of a set of localized states in graphene's VB related to the molecular orbitals of the introduced functionalities was signified both experimentally and theoretically. Applying the density functional theory calculations, the impact of the localized states corresponding to the molecular orbitals of the hydroxyl and epoxide groups was decomposed. Altogether, these findings unveiled the particular contribution of the epoxide and hydroxyl groups to the core-level spectra and band structure of graphene derivatives, advancing graphene functionalization as a tool to engineer its physical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is devoted to investigating the stability of metal–organic framework (MOF)-hybrid perovskites consisting of CH3NH3PbI3 (MAPbI3) and UiO-66 without a functional group and UiO-66 with different COOH, NH2,and F functional groups under external influences including heat, light, and humidity. By conducting crystallinity, optical, and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) measurements after long-term aging, all of the prepared MAPbI3@UiO-66 nanocomposites (with pristine UiO-66 or UiO-66 with additional functional groups) were stable to light soaking and a relative humidity (RH) of 50%. Moreover, the UiO-66 and UiO-66-(F)4 hybrid perovskite films possessed a higher heat tolerance than the other two UiO-66 with the additional functional groups of NH2 and COOH. Tthe MAPbI3@UiO-66-(F)4 delivered the highest stability and improved optical properties after aging. This study provides a deeper understanding of the impact of the structure of hybrid MOFs on the stability of the composite films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gold nanoclusters have revealed great potential as nanoantibiotics due to their superior chemical and physical characteristics. In this study, a peptide with 83 amino acids derived from haptoglobin was utilized as a surface ligand to synthesize gold nanoclusters via a facile hydrothermal approach. Characterization of the structural and optical properties demonstrated the successful synthesis of derived haptoglobin-conjugated gold nanoclusters. The spherical derived haptoglobin-conjugated gold nanoclusters exhibited a (111) plane of cubic gold and an ultra-small size of 3.6 ± 0.1 nm. The optical properties such as ultraviolet-visible absorption spectra, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectra, fluorescence spectra, and Fourier transform infrared spectra also validated the successful conjugation between the derived haptoglobin peptide and the gold nanoclusters surface. The antibacterial activity, reactive oxygen species production, and antibacterial mechanisms of derived haptoglobin-conjugated gold nanoclusters were confirmed by culturing the bacterium Escherichia coli with hemoglobin to simulate bacteremia. The surface ligand of the derived haptoglobin peptide of derived haptoglobin-conjugated gold nanoclusters was able to conjugate with hemoglobin to inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli. The derived haptoglobin-conjugated gold nanoclusters with an ultra-small size also induced reactive oxygen species production, which resulted in the death of Escherichia coli. The superior antibacterial activity of derived haptoglobin-conjugated gold nanoclusters can be attributed to the synergistic effect of the surface ligand of the derived haptoglobin peptide and the ultra-small size. Our work demonstrated derived haptoglobin-conjugated gold nanoclusters as a promising nanoantibiotic for combating bacteremia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface properties of zinc oxide powders prepared using mechanical activation, electron beam irradiation, and vacuum annealing, as well using combinations of these types of treatments, were studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The structure of the obtained materials was studied by an X-ray diffraction technique and by scanning electron microscopy. We found that over five hours of grinding in an attritor, the size of nanocrystals decreases from 37 to 21 nm, and microdeformations increase from 0.3% to 0.6%. It was also found that a five-hour grinding treatment promoted formation of vacancies in the zinc sublattice at the surface and diffusion of Zn2+ cations into the bulk of the material. Irradiation of commercial zinc oxide powders with an electron beam with an energy of 0.9 MeV and a dose of 1 MGy induced breaking of Zn–O bonds, diffusion of interstitial zinc ions into the bulk, and oxygen atom escape from regular positions into the gas phase. A combined treatment of five hours of grinding and electron beam irradiation promoted accumulation of interstitial zinc ions at the surface of the material. Annealing of both initial and mechanically activated ZnO powders at temperatures up to 400 °C did not lead to a significant change in the properties of the samples. Upon exceeding the 400 °C annealing temperature the X-ray photoelectron spectra show almost identical atomic composition of the two types of materials, which is related to diffusion of interstitial zinc ions from the bulk of the material to the surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a simple strategy to grow a novel cobalt nickel vanadium oxide (CoxNiVyOz) nanocomposite on bare and reduced-graphene-oxide (rGO)-coated nickel foam (Ni foam) substrates. In this way, the synthesized graphene oxide is coated on Ni foam, and reduced electrochemically with a negative voltage to prepare a more conductive rGO-coated Ni foam substrate. The fabricated electrodes were characterized with a field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectra (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra. The electrochemical performance of these CoxNiVyOz-based electrode materials deposited on rGO-coated Ni foam substrate exhibited superior specific capacitance 701.08 F/g, which is more than twice that of a sample coated on bare Ni foam (300.31 F/g) under the same experimental conditions at current density 2 A/g. Our work highlights the effect of covering the Ni foam surface with a rGO film to expedite the specific capacity of the supercapacitors. Despite the slightly decreased stability of a CoxNiVyOz-based electrode coated on a Ni foam@rGO substrate, the facile synthesis, large specific capacitance, and preservation of 92% of the initial capacitance, even after running 5500 cyclic voltammetric (CV) scans, indicate that the CoxNiVyOz-based electrode is a promising candidate for high-performance energy-storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of studies of the local surface properties of pure and highly Nb-doped (12 wt %) TiO2 nanotubes (TNT) using the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) methods, respectively. XPS analysis showed that the pure TNT exhibit an evident over-stoichiometry combined with high level of undesired C contaminations, which was confirmed by the relative concentration of specific elements O, Ti and C (with respect to all the surface atoms) equal to 0.46, 018 and 0.36, respectively. In turn, for the highly Nb-doped (12 wt %) TNT, a slightly different surface chemistry was observed because the relative concentration of specific elements O and Ti and, with respect to all the surface atoms, is slightly lower, that is, 0.42 and 0.12, respectively; this is directly related to the fact that Nb atoms appeared having the relative concentration at the level of 0.09, whereas the undesired C contaminations reached the same level (0.36), as is the case of pure TNT. In addition, SEM analysis confirms that there are evident free spaces between the specific slops containing several TNT, what was additionally confirmed by the contribution of specific surface bonding coming from the SiO2/Si substrate. The obtained information allowed us a new insight on the potential origin of aging effect at the surface of TNT in atmosphere being the undesired limitation for their potential application as the chemical resistive type sensors or in any other fields of their application related to their surface activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indium titanium zinc oxide (InTiZnO) as the channel layer in thin film transistor (TFT) grown by RF sputtering system is proposed in this work. Optical and electrical properties were investigated. By changing the oxygen flow ratio, we can suppress excess and undesirable oxygen-related defects to some extent, making it possible to fabricate the optimized device. XPS patterns for O 1s of InTiZnO thin films indicated that the amount of oxygen vacancy was apparently declined with the increasing oxygen flow ratio. The fabricated TFTs showed a threshold voltage of -0.9 V, mobility of 0.884 cm²/Vs, on-off ratio of 5.5 × 105, and subthreshold swing of 0.41 V/dec. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface charge transfer doping has attracted much attention in modulating the optical and electrical behavior of 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), where finding controllable and efficient dopants is crucial. Here, 1,1,2,2-tetraphenylethylene (TPE) derivative molecules with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effect were selected as adjustable dopants. By designing nitro and methoxyl functional groups and surface coating, controlled p/n-type doping can be achieved on a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) grown monolayer, MoS2. We investigated the electron transfer behavior between these two dopants and MoS2 with fluorescence, Raman, X-ray photoelectron spectra and transient absorption spectra. 1,1,2,2-Tetrakis(4-nitrophenyl)ethane (TPE-4NO2) with a negative charge aggregation can be a donor to transfer electrons to MoS2, while 1,1,2,2-Tetrakis(4-methoxyphenyl)ethane (TPE-4OCH3) is the opposite and electron-accepting. Density functional theory calculations further explain and confirm these experimental results. This work shows a new way to select suitable dopants for TMDCs, which is beneficial for a wide range of applications in optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spinel ZnGa2O4 films were grown on c-plane sapphire substrates at the substrate temperature of 400 °C by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering. Post thermal annealing was employed at the annealing temperature of 700 °C in order to enhance their crystal quality. The effect of thermal annealing on the microstructural and optoelectronic properties of ZnGa2O4 films was systematically investigated in various ambiences, such as air, nitrogen, and oxygen. The X-ray diffraction patterns of annealed ZnGa2O4 films showed the crystalline structure to have (111) crystallographic planes. Transmission electron micrographs verified that ZnGa2O4 film annealed under air ambience possesses a quasi-single-crystalline structure. This ZnGa2O4 film annealed under air ambience exhibited a smooth surface, an excellent average transmittance above 82% in the visible region, and a wide bandgap of 5.05 eV. The oxygen vacancies under different annealing ambiences were revealed a substantial impact on the material and photodetector characteristics by X-ray photoelectron spectrum investigations. ZnGa2O4 film exhibits optimal performance as a metal-semiconductor-metal photodetector when annealed under air ambience. Under these conditions, ZnGa2O4 film exhibits a higher photo/dark current ratio of ~104 order, as well as a high responsivity of 2.53 A/W at the bias of 5 V under an incident optical light of 240 nm. These results demonstrate that quasi-single-crystalline ZnGa2O4 films have significant potential in deep-ultraviolet applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the influence of oxygen concentration in InWZnO (IWZO), which was used as the switching layer of conductive bridge random access memory, (CBRAM) is investigated. With different oxygen flow during the sputtering process, the IWZO film can be fabricated with different oxygen concentrations and different oxygen vacancy distribution. In addition, the electrical characteristics of CBRAM device with different oxygen concentration are compared and further analyzed with an atomic force microscope and X-ray photoelectron spectrum. Furthermore, a stacking structure with different bilayer switching is also systematically discussed. Compared with an interchange stacking layer and other single layer memory, the CBRAM with specific stacking sequence of bilayer oxygen-poor/-rich IWZO (IWZOx/IWZOy, x < y) exhibits more stable distribution of a resistance state and also better endurance (more than 3 × 104 cycles). Meanwhile, the memory window of IWZOx/IWZOy can even be maintained over 104 s at 85 °C. Those improvements can be attributed to the oxygen vacancy distribution in switching layers, which may create a suitable environment for the conductive filament formation or rupture. Therefore, it is believed that the specific stacking bilayer IWZO CBRAM might further pave the way for emerging memory applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the abundance and low cost of exchanged metal, sodium-ion batteries have attracted increasing research attention for the massive energy storage associated with renewable energy sources. Nickel oxide (NiO) thin films have been prepared by magnetron sputtering (MS) deposition under an oblique angle configuration (OAD) and used as electrodes for Na-ion batteries. A systematic chemical, structural and electrochemical analysis of this electrode has been carried out. The electrochemical characterization by galvanostatic charge–discharge cycling and cyclic voltammetry has revealed a certain loss of performance after the initial cycling of the battery. The conversion reaction of NiO with sodium ions during the discharge process to generate sodium oxide and Ni metal has been confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) and micro-Raman analysis. Likewise, it has been determined that the charging process is not totally reversible, causing a reduction in battery capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic H2 production is a promising strategy toward green energy and alternative to carbon-based fuels which are the root cause of global warming and pollution. In this study, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) incorporated Z-scheme assembly of AgBr/TiO2 was developed for photocatalytic H2 production under visible light irradiations. Synthesized photocatalysts were characterized through transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), photoluminescence spectra (PL), Brunauer Emmet-Teller(BET), and UV-vis spectroscopy analysis techniques. The composite photocatalysts exhibited a H2 production of 477 ppm which was three-folds higher than that produced by TiO2. The good performance was attributed to the strong interaction of three components and the reduced charge recombination, which was 89 and 56.3 times lower than the TiO2 and AgBr/TiO2. Furthermore, the role of surface acidic and basic groups was assessed and the photocatalytic results demonstrated the importance of surface functional groups. In addition, the composites exhibited stability and reusability for five consecutive cycles of reaction. Thus, improved performance of the photocatalyst was credited to the CNTs as an electron mediator, surface functional groups, higher surface area, enhanced charge separation and extended visible light absorption edge. This work provides new development of Z-scheme photocatalysts for sustainable H2 production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rational design and modification of the all-carbon fullerene cages to meliorate their nature of hydrophobicity is critical for biomedical applications. The outstanding electron affinity of fullerenes enables them to effectively eliminate reactive oxygen species (ROS), the excess of which may lead to health hazards or biological dysfunction. Herein reported is a facile, mild, and green approach to synthesizing the favorable water-soluble C60 nanoparticles capable of ROS-scavenging by combining the mussel-inspired chemistry with the Michael addition reaction. Various characterization techniques, including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), transmission electron cryomicroscopy (Cryo-TEM), and dynamic laser scattering (DLS) were carried out to confirm the satisfactory preparation of the hybrid C60-PDA-GSH nanoparticles, which exhibited apparent scavenging capacity of DPPH and hydroxyl radicals in vitro. Additionally, the biocompatible C60-PDA-GSH nanoparticles entered into cells and displayed a universal cytoprotective effect against oxidative press induced by H2O2 in four kinds of human cells at a low concentration of 2 μg/mL. The ease and versatility of the strategy present in this work will not only trigger more fullerene-based materials by the immobilization of diverse functional molecules, but will also extend their possible applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The resistive switching (RS) characteristics of flexible films deposited on mica substrates have rarely been reported upon, especially flexible HfO2 films. A novel flexible Au/HfO2/Pt/mica resistive random access memory device was prepared by a sol-gel process, and a Au/HfO2/Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si (100) device was also prepared for comparison. The HfO2 thin films were grown into the monoclinic phase by the proper annealing process at 700 °C, demonstrated by grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction patterns. The ratio of high/low resistance (off/on) reached 1000 and 50 for the two devices, respectively, being relatively stable for the former but not for the latter. The great difference in ratios for the two devices may have been caused by different concentrations of the oxygen defect obtained by the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectra indicating composition and chemical state of the HfO2 thin films. The conduction mechanism was dominated by Ohm's law in the low resistance state, while in high resistance state, Ohmic conduction, space charge limited conduction (SCLC), and trap-filled SCLC conducted together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gold catalysts supported on various morphologies of α-Fe2O3 in carbon monoxide (CO) oxidation reaction have been studied for many researchers. However, how to improve the catalytic activity and thermal stability for CO oxidation is still important. In this work, an unusual morphology of α-Fe2O3 was prepared by hydrothermal method and gold nanoparticles were supported using a deposition-precipitation method. Au/α-Fe2O3 catalyst exhibited great activity for CO oxidation. The crystal structure and microstructure images of α-Fe2O3 were carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the size of gold nanoparticles was determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) results confirmed that the state of gold was metallic. The 1.86% Au/α-Fe2O3 catalyst calcined at 300 °C had the best catalytic performance for CO oxidation reaction and the mechanism for CO oxidation reaction was also discussed. It is highly likely that the small size of gold nanoparticle, oxygen vacancies and active sites played the decisive roles in CO oxidation reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modification of the surface properties of SrTiO3 crystals by regulating the reaction environment in order to improve the photocatalytic activity has been widely studied. However, the development of a facile, effective, and universal method to improve the photocatalytic activity of these crystals remains an enormous challenge. We have developed a simple method to modify the surface environment of SrTiO3 by ethanol quenching, which results in enhanced UV, visible and infrared light absorption and photocatalytic performance. The SrTiO3 nanocrystals were preheated to 800 °C and immediately quenched by submersion in ethanol. X-ray diffraction patterns, electron paramagnetic resonance spectra, and X-ray photoelectron spectra indicated that upon rapid ethanol quenching, the interaction between hot SrTiO3 and ethanol led to the introduction of a high concentration of oxygen vacancies on the surface of the SrTiO3 lattice. Consequently, to maintain the regional charge balance of SrTiO3, Sr2+ could be substituted for Ti4+. Moreover, oxygen vacancies induced localized states into the band gap of the modified SrTiO3 and acted as photoinduced charge traps, thus promoting the photocatalytic activity. The improved photocatalytic performance of the modified SrTiO3 was demonstrated by using it for the decomposition of rhodamine B and production of H2 from water under visible or solar light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum dots (QDs) have attracted great attention due to their unique optical properties. High fluorescence efficiency is very important for their practical application. In this study, we report a simple and efficient strategy to enhance the photoluminescence of water-dispersed thiol-capped QDs using γ-radiation. Three kinds of QDs with different surface ligands and cores (MPA-CdTe, MPA-CdSe and Cys-CdTe) were fabricated and irradiated by high-energy γ-ray in an aqueous solution. Their photoluminescence intensities were significantly enhanced after irradiation, which were closely related to the radiation dose and the structure of QDs. The positions of the fluorescence emission peaks did not shift obviously after irradiation. The mechanism of photoluminescence enhancement was discussed based on the results of photoluminescence (PL) spectra, UV-visible light absorption (UV-vis) spectra, transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). This method can be employed to uniformly treat large batches of QDs at room temperature and without other chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]