Gallium Phosphide photoanode coated with TiO2 and CoOx for stable photoelectrochemical water oxidation.

Gallium Phosphide (GaP) has a band gap of 2.26 eV and a valance band edge that is more negative than the water oxidation level. Hence, it may be a promising material for photoelectrochemical water splitting. However, one thing GaP has in common with other III-V semiconductors is that it corrodes in photoelectrochemical reactions. Cobalt oxide (CoOx) is a chemically stable and highly active oxygen evolution reaction co-catalyst. In this study, we protected a GaP photoanode by using a 20 nm TiO2 as a protection layer and a 2 nm cobalt oxide co-catalyst layer, which were both deposited via atomic layer deposition (ALD). A GaP photoanode that was modified by CoOx exhibited much higher photocurrent, potential, and photon-to-current efficiency than a bare GaP photoanode under AM1.5G illumination. A photoanode that was coated with both TiO2 and CoOx layers was stable for over 24 h during constant reaction in 1 M NaOH (pH 13.7) solution under one sun illumination.

The in situ synthesis of PbS nanocrystals from lead(II) n-octylxanthate within a 1,3-diisopropenylbenzene-bisphenol A dimethacrylate sulfur copolymer.

The synthesis of lead sulfide nanocrystals within a solution processable sulfur 'inverse vulcanization' polymer thin film matrix was achieved from the in situ thermal decomposition of lead(II) n-octylxanthate, [Pb(S2COOct)2]. The growth of nanocrystals within polymer thin films from single-source precursors offers a faster route to networks of nanocrystals within polymers when compared with ex situ routes. The 'inverse vulcanization' sulfur polymer described herein contains a hybrid linker system which demonstrates high solubility in organic solvents, allowing solution processing of the sulfur-based polymer, ideal for the formation of thin films. The process of nanocrystal synthesis within sulfur films was optimized by observing nanocrystal formation by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Examination of the film morphology by scanning electron microscopy showed that beyond a certain precursor concentration the nanocrystals formed were not only within the film but also on the surface suggesting a loading limit within the polymer. We envisage this material could be used as the basis of a new generation of materials where solution processed sulfur polymers act as an alternative to traditional polymers.

Direct and continuous synthesis of VO2 nanoparticles.

Monoclinic VO2 nanoparticles are of interest due to the material's thermochromic properties, however, direct synthesis routes to VO2 nanoparticles are often inaccessible due to the high synthesis temperatures or long reaction times required. Herein, we present a two-step synthesis route for the preparation of monoclinic VO2 nanoparticles using Continuous Hydrothermal Flow Synthesis (CHFS) followed by a short post heat treatment step. A range of particle sizes, dependent on synthesis conditions, were produced from 50 to 200 nm by varying reaction temperatures and the residence times in the process. The nanoparticles were characterised by powder X-ray diffraction, Raman and UV/Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The nanoparticles were highly crystalline with rod and sphere-like morphologies present in TEM micrographs, with the size of both the rod and spherical particles being highly dependent on both reaction temperature and residence time. SEM micrographs showed the surface of the powders produced from the CHFS process to be highly uniform. The samples were given a short post synthesis heat treatment to ensure that they were phase pure monoclinic VO2, which led to them exhibiting a large and reversible switch in optical properties (at near-IR wavelengths), which suggests that if such materials can be incorporated into coatings or in composites, they could be used for fenestration in architectural applications.

The interaction of gold and silver nanoparticles with a range of anionic and cationic dyes.

We describe the synthesis of charge-stabilised gold and silver nanoparticles by a modified Turkevich method and their interaction with a selection of cationic and anionic dyes. It was found that gold nanoparticles interact strongly with cationic dyes and in some cases enhanced absorption was observed by UV-visible spectroscopy. It is also shown that addition of cationic dyes to gold nanoparticles triggers aggregation of the nanoparticles into large, micrometre-scale clusters. Simultaneous fragmentation and agglomeration of the gold nanoparticles was observed at high concentrations of cationic dye in the solution. These effects were not observed when gold nanoparticles were mixed with anionic dyes, nor for silver nanoparticles with either cationic or anionic dyes.

Thermal relaxation and collective dynamics of interacting aerosol-generated hexagonal NiFe2O4 nanoparticles.

This article reports on the magnetic properties of interacting uncoated nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) nanoparticles synthesized through an aerosol levitation-jet technique. A comprehensive set of samples with different compositions of background gas and metal precursors, as well as applied electric field intensities, has been studied. Nanoparticles prepared under a field of 210 kV m(-1) show moderately high-field irreversibility and shifted hysteresis loops after field-cooling, also exhibiting a joint temperature decrease of the exchange field and coercivity. The appearance of memory effects has been checked using the genuine ZFC protocol and the observed behavior cannot be fully explained in terms of thermal relaxation. Although dipolar interactions prevail, exchange interactions occur to a certain extent within a narrow range of applied fields. The origin of the slow dynamics in the system is found to be given by the interplay of the distribution of energy barriers due to size dispersion and the cooperative dynamics associated with frustrated interactions.

Use of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose 2% for removing adherent silicone oil from silicone intraocular lenses.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To investigate the effect of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) on the physical interaction (contact angle) between silicone oil and a silicone intraocular lens (IOL). METHODS: In vitro experiments were performed, to determine the effect of HPMC (0.5%, 1% or 2%), with or without an additional simple mechanical manoeuvre, on the contact angle of silicone oil at the surface of both silicone and acrylic (control) IOLs. A balanced salt solution chamber was used. The study group comprised 21 silicone and nine acrylic IOLs. RESULTS: The median contact angle of silicone oil on silicone IOL was 99 degrees. The addition of HPMC 2% alone did not significantly alter the contact angle. HPMC 2% combined with an additional single mechanical manoeuvre increased the contact angle to 180 degrees (greater non-wetting), with complete separation of silicone oil from silicone IOL within 1 min. The manoeuvre alone, or in conjunction with a lower concentration of HPMC (0.5 or 1%), was ineffective in increasing the contact angle. CONCLUSION: We present a novel, non-toxic technique of using hydroxypropylmethylcellulose 2% combined with a simple mechanical manoeuvre, for the removal of adherent silicone oil droplets from silicone intraocular lenses.

Quantum dots as enhancers of the efficacy of bacterial lethal photosensitization.

Because of the increasing resistance of bacteria to antibiotics there is considerable interest in light-activated antimicrobial agents (LAAAs) as alternatives to antibiotics for treating localized infections. The purpose of this study was to determine whether CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QD) could enhance the antibacterial activity of the LAAA, toluidine blue O (TBO). Suspensions of Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes were exposed to white light (3600 lux) and TBO (absorbance maximum = 630 nm) in the presence and absence of 25 nm diameter QD (emission maximum = 627 nm). When the TBO:QD ratio was 2667:1, killing of Staph. aureus was enhanced by 1.72log(10) units. In the case of Strep. pyogenes, an enhanced kill of 1.55log(10) units was achieved using TBO and QD in the ratio 267:1. Singlet oxygen and fluorescence measurements showed that QD suppress the formation of singlet oxygen from TBO and that QD fluorescence is significantly quenched in the presence of TBO (70-90%). Enhanced killing appears to be attributable to a non-Förster resonance energy transfer mechanism, whereby the QD converts part of the incident light to the absorption maximum for TBO; hence more light energy is harvested, resulting in increased concentrations of bactericidal radicals. QD may, therefore, be useful in improving the efficacy of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy.

Liquid ammonia mediated metathesis: synthesis of binary metal chalcogenides and pnictides.

Addition of stoichiometric amounts of low valent metal halides to liquid ammonia solutions of disodium chalcogenide (Na(2)E; E = S, Se, Te) afforded a range of both crystalline (PbE (E = S, Se, Te), TlE (E = S, Se), Tl(5)Te(3), Ag(2)E (E = S, Se, Te)) and X-ray amorphous (MS (M = Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Hg), M(2)E(3) (M = Ga, In; E = S, Se, Te), HgE (E = Se, Te), CuE (E = S, Se, Te), Cu(2)S) metal chalcogenides in good yield (95%). Reactions between metal halides and sodium pnictides (Na(3)Pn; Pn = As, Sb) in liquid ammonia also afforded X-ray amorphous material (M(3)Pn(2), M = Zn, Cd; MPn, M = Fe, Co, Ni) in good yield (95%). Isolation of the metal chalcogenides and pnictides was achieved through washing with CS(2) and distilled water. All reactions were complete within 36 h. Products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA), electron probe analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, microanalysis, and band gap measurements. Annealing amorphous material at 250-300 degrees C for 48 h induced sufficient crystallinity for analysis by X-ray powder diffraction.

Dinuclear (d(3)-d(3)) Diolate Complexes of Molybdenum and Tungsten. 1. Preparation and Characterization of Complexes Derived from 2,5-Dimethylhexane-2,5-diol.

Reaction of M(2)(O(t)Bu)(6) (M = Mo, W) with 3 equiv of 2,5-dimethylhexane-2,5-diol (LH(2)) in hexane/THF produces orange crystals of M(2)(&mgr;-L(3))(2), Ia (M = Mo), Ib (M = W), in high yield (80%). Treatment of M(2)(NMe(2))(6) with excess (>8 fold) LH(2) in THF/hexane solution at -20 degrees C produces exclusively green crystals of M(2)(&mgr;-L)(eta(2)-L)(2)(HNMe(2))(2), IIa (M = Mo), IIb (M = W), in high yield (75%). Dissolving IIa and IIb in toluene at room temperature slowly produces Ia and Ib, respectively, the process being accelerated by heat (t(1/2) = 10 min at 60 degrees C). Compounds Ia, Ib, IIa, and IIb were characterized by (1)H NMR, IR, melting point, and microanalysis, and Ib and IIb were also characterized by X-ray crystallography. Addition of excess HNMe(2) to a solution of Ia or Ib at -50 degrees C does not produce any IIa or IIb after 2 months, but at +25 degrees C, 40% IIa and IIb are produced with HNMe(2) after 2 days. Crystal data for Ib: W(2)(&mgr;-L)(3) at -171 degrees C, a = 12.568(2) Å, b = 12.568(3) Å, c = 37.075(8) Å, Z = 8, d(calcd) = 1.822 g/cm(3), space group I4(1)/a. The molecule Ib adopts an "ethane-like" staggered conformation with three eight-membered diolate rings spanning the W-W triple bond: W&tbd1;W = 2.3628(11) Å; W-O = 1.87 Å (average). Crystal data for compound IIb: W(2)(&mgr;-L)(eta(2)-L)(2)(HNMe(2))(2) at -170 degrees C, a = b = 20.198(3) Å, c = 17.819(3) Å, Z = 8, d(calcd) = 1.629 g/cm(3), space group P4/ncc. IIb has two essentially square planar WO(3)N units connected by a W-W triple bond, W&tbd1;W = 2.3196(12) Å, W-O = 1.95 Å (average), and W-N = 2.294(11) Å, and one bridging eight-membered diolate ring. The other two diolate ligands chelate at opposite ends of the molecule forming two seven-membered rings.