Tungsten-doped TiO2/reduced Graphene Oxide nano-composite photocatalyst for degradation of phenol: A system to reduce surface and bulk electron-hole recombination.

Recombination of photogenerated charges is the main factor affecting the photocatalytic activity of TiO2. Here, we report a combined strategy of suppressing both the bulk as well as the surface recombination processes by doping TiO2 with tungsten and forming a nanocomposite with reduced graphene oxide (rGO), respectively. Sol-gel method was used to dope and optimize the concentration of W in TiO2 powder. UV-Vis, XPS, PL and time resolved PL spectra along with DFT calculations indicate that W6+ in TiO2 lattice creates an impurity level just below the conduction band of TiO2 to act as a trapping site of electrons, which causes to improve the lifetime of the photo-generated charges. Maximum reduction in the PL intensity and the improvement in charge carrier lifetime was observed for TiO2 doped with 1 at.% W (1W-TiO2), which also displayed the highest photo-activity for the degradation of p-nitro phenol pollutant in water. Tuning of rGO/TiO2 ratio (weight) disclosed that the highest activity can be achieved with the composite formed by taking equal amounts of TiO2 and rGO (1:1), in which the strong interaction between TiO2 and rGO causes an effective charge transfer via bonds formed near the interface as indicated by XPS. Both these optimized concentrations were utilized to form the composite rGO/1W-TiO2, which showed the highest activity in photo-degradation of p-nitro phenol (87%) as compared to rGO/TiO2 (42%), 1W-TiO2 (62%) and pure TiO2 (29%) in 180 min. XPS and PL results revealed that in the present nanocomposite, tungsten species traps the excited electron to reduce the interband recombination in the bulk, while the interaction between TiO2 and rGO creates a channel for fast transfer of excited electrons towards the latter before being recombined on the surface defect sites.

Temperature dependent magnetic Compton profiles and first-principles strategies of quaternary half-Heusler alloy Co1-x Cu x MnSb(0 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.8).

Temperature dependent experimental Compton profiles of quaternary alloys Co1-x Cu x MnSb (x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.6 and 0.8) when decomposed into constituent profiles show that the sp-electron spin polarization is antiferromagnetically coupled to Mn-3d moments. The orbital magnetic moments derived from combination of magnetic Compton profiles (MCPs) and magnetization measurements are found to be small. Moreover, the first-principles full potential-linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) calculations have been performed to validate the experimental investigations of spin moments and half-Heusler properties. Present experimental and theoretical work show major role of Mn atoms in building-up the absolute spin moments. Our MCP data and spin-projected density of states derived from FP-LAPW computations show an increase in sp-d interaction in conduction region on increasing the Cu concentration. Further, Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida-type hybridization and antiferromagnetic superexchange interactions are witnessed in the reported alloys.

Electronic properties of RDX and HMX: Compton scattering experiment and first-principles calculation.

The first-ever electron momentum density (EMD) measurements of explosive materials, namely, RDX (1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazacyclohexane, (CH2-N-NO2)3) and HMX (1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetraazacyclooctane, (CH2-N-NO2)4), have been reported using a 740 GBq (137)Cs Compton spectrometer. Experimental Compton profiles (CPs) are compared with the EMDs derived from linear combination of atomic orbitals with density functional theory. It is found that the CPs deduced from generalized gradient approximation (GGA) with Wu-Cohen exchange energies give a better agreement with the corresponding experimental profiles than those from local density approximation and other schemes of GGA. Further, Mulliken population, energy bands, partial and total density of states, and band gap have also been reported using GGA calculations. Present ground state calculations unambiguously show large band gap semiconductor nature of both RDX and HMX. A similar type of bonding in these materials is uniquely established using Compton data and density of states. It is also outstandingly consistent with the Mulliken population, which predicts almost equal amount of charge transfer (0.84 and 0.83 e(-)) from H1 + H2 + N2 to C1 + N1 + O1 + O2 in both the explosives.

Compton profile study and electronic properties of tantalum diboride.

We have reported the first-ever experimental Compton profile (CP) of TaB2 using 20 Ci(137)Cs Compton spectrometer. To compare the experimental data, we have also computed the theoretical CPs using density functional theory (DFT) and hybridization of DFT and Hartree-Fock (HF) within linear combination of the atomic orbitals (LCAO) method. In addition, we have reported energy bands and density of states of TaB2 using LCAO and full potential-linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) methods. A real space analysis of CP of TaB2 confirms its metallic character which is in tune with the cross-overs of Fermi level by energy bands and Fermi surface topology. A comparison of equal-valence-electron-density (EVED) experimental profiles of isoelectronic TaB2 and NbB2 show more covalent (or less ionic) character of TaB2 than that of NbB2 which is in agreement with available ionicity data.

Electronic structure of CaCO3: a Compton scattering study.

In the present work, we have studied electron momentum density of CaCO3 using a Compton scattering technique. The experiment has been performed using a 100 mCi (241)Am (59.54 keV) Compton spectrometer. The experimental data have been interpreted in terms of theoretical Compton profiles. To compute the theoretical momentum densities, energy bands and density of states, we have used linear combination of atomic orbitals method as embodied in CRYSTAL09 code. We have used local density approximation, generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and second order GGA (SOGGA) within the frame work of density functional theory. It is seen that the GGA gives a better agreement with the experimental data than other approximations. We have also discussed the energy bands and density of states of CaCO3.

A Compton scattering study of refractory niobium diborides.

Isotropic Compton profile of NbB(2) using 20 Ci (137)Cs Compton spectrometer is compared with our theoretical profiles obtained from the density functional theory (DFT) within the first and the second order generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and the hybridization of Hartree-Fock and DFT. A good agreement between GGA based profiles and the experiment validates the applicability of second order GGA in momentum densities. Energy bands, density of states and real space analysis of the experimental profile show metallic character of NbB(2).

A magnetic Compton scattering study of Ga rich Co-Ni-Ga ferromagnetic shape memory alloys.

The temperature dependent spin momentum densities of Co(1.8)NiGa(1.2) and Co(2)Ni(0.76)Ga(1.24) alloys have been measured using the magnetic Compton scattering technique. The individual contributions of constituents in the formation of the total spin moment are also calculated using Compton line shape analysis. The magnetic Compton data when compared with the magnetization data obtained using a vibrating sample magnetometer show a negligible orbital contribution. The spin moments deduced from the experimental Compton data are compared with the theoretical results obtained from the full potential linearized augmented plane wave method and are found to be in good agreement. The origin of the magnetism in both alloys is also described in terms of the e(g) and t(2g) contributions of Ni and Co.

High energy Compton scattering study of TiC and TiN.

We present the experimental Compton profiles of TiC and TiN using 661.65 keV γ-ray from 20 Ci (137)Cs source. To explain our experimental data on momentum densities, we have computed the theoretical profiles, energy bands and density of states using linear combination of atomic orbitals scheme within the framework of density functional theory. In addition the energy bands, density of states and Fermi surfaces using full potential linearised augmented plane wave method have also been computed. Energy bands and density of states obtained from both the theoretical models show metallic character of TiC and TiN. The anisotropies in Compton line shapes and the Fermi surface topology are discussed in term of energy bands.

Compton profiles and electronic structure of HgBr(2) and HgI(2).

In this paper, we present the first-ever experimental Compton line shapes of HgBr(2) and HgI(2) using (137)Cs Compton spectrometer. To compare our experimental momentum densities, we have computed the Compton profiles using Hartree-Fock and density functional theory within linear combination of atomic orbitals. We have also computed the energy bands and density of states using the linear combination of atomic orbitals and full potential linearized augmented plane wave method. On the basis of equal-valence-electron-density profiles, it is seen that HgI(2) is more covalent than HgBr(2) which is in agreement with the valence charge densities. The experimental isotropic profiles are found to be relatively in better agreement with the Hartree-Fock data. We have also discussed the photoluminescence and detection properties of both the halides.

Temperature dependent spin momentum densities in Ni-Mn-In alloys.

The spin-dependent electron momentum densities in Ni(2)MnIn and Ni(2)Mn(1.4)In(0.6) shape memory alloy using magnetic Compton scattering with 182.2 keV circularly polarized synchrotron radiation are reported. The magnetic Compton profiles were measured at different temperatures ranging between 10 and 300 K. The profiles have been analyzed mainly in terms of Mn 3d electrons to determine their role in the formation of the total spin moment. We have also computed the spin polarized energy bands, partial and total density of states, Fermi surfaces and spin moments using full potential linearized augmented plane wave and spin polarized relativistic Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker methods. The total spin moments obtained from our magnetic Compton profile data are explained using both the band structure models. The present Compton scattering investigations are also compared with magnetization measurements.

Electronic properties of PbCl2 and PbBr2 using Compton scattering technique.

We present the electron momentum densities of PbCl(2) and PbBr(2) using 661.65 keV gamma-rays from 20 Ci (137)Cs source. To supplement our experimental investigations, we also report energy bands, density of states, Mulliken's population and Compton profiles of PbCl(2) and PbBr(2) using linear combination of atomic orbitals within Hartree-Fock and density functional theories. The energy bands are also computed employing full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method. Compton profiles are also analyzed in terms of equal-valence-electron-density scale. It shows that PbCl(2) is more covalent than PbBr(2), which is in agreement with the Mulliken's population analysis. It is seen that the Hartree-Fock and density functional theory based Compton line shapes show similar type of deviations from the experimental data. The luminescence properties of these halides are explained on the basis of energy band and density of states.