Search results for "Conductor"

2017

The adsorption of molecular acceptors is a viable method for tuning the work function of metal electrodes. This, in turn, enables adjusting charge injection barriers between the electrode and organic semiconductors. Here, we demonstrate the potential of pyrene-tetraone (PyT) and its derivatives dibromopyrene-tetraone (Br-PyT) and dinitropyrene-tetraone (NO2-PyT) for modifying the electronic properties of Au(111) and Ag(111) surfaces. The systems are investigated by complementary theoretical and experimental approaches, including photoelectron spectroscopy, the X-ray standing wave technique, and density functional theory simulations. For some of the investigated interfaces the trends expecte…

Triple-resonance autoionization of uranium optimized for diode laser excitation

2007

Abstract The photoionization of uranium via three-step excitation has been optimized for isotope selective trace analysis. A search found 13 new J = 6, 7, and 8 odd-parity states in the 36,850–37,200 cm− 1 region that allow blue–red–red three-photon excitation at wavelengths favorable for commercial diode laser systems. From each of these 13 states, near-threshold autoionization spectra were recorded at a resolution of 3 × 10− 4 cm− 1. Some 30 even-parity autoionizing levels with J = 5 to 9 have also been observed and characterized. Comparison of the spectra allows J assignment for the new intermediate levels as well as selection of an optimized path for trace analysis. We show that, for a …

Assembly and Separation of Semiconductor Quantum Dot Dimers and Trimers

2011

Repeated precipitation of colloidal semiconductor quantum dots (QD) from a good solvent by adding a poor solvent leads to an increasing number of QD oligomers after redispersion in the good solvent. By using density gradient ultracentrifugation we have been able to separate QD monomer, dimer, and trimer fractions from higher oligomers in such solutions. In the corresponding fractions QD dimers and trimers have been enriched up to 90% and 64%, respectively. Besides directly coupled oligomers, QD dimers and trimers were also assembled by linkage with a rigid terrylene diimide dye (TDI) and separated again by ultracentrifugation. High-resolution transmission electron micrographs show that the …

Ab initio modeling of excitonic and charge-transfer states in organic semiconductors: the PTB1/PCBM low band gap system.

2013

A detailed quantum chemical simulation of the excitonic and charge-transfer (CT) states of a bulk heterojunction model containing poly(thieno[3,4-b]thiophene benzodithiophene) (PTB1)/[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) is reported. The largest molecular model contains two stacked PTB1 trimer chains interacting with C60 positioned on top of and lateral to the (PTB1)3 stack. The calculations were performed using the algebraic diagrammatic construction method to second order (ADC(2)). One main result of the calculations is that the CT states are located below the bright inter-chain excitonic state, directly accessible via internal conversion processes. The other important aspects…

Direct observation of the electroadsorptive effect on ultrathin films for microsensor and catalytic-surface control.

2013

Microchemical sensors and catalytic reactors make use of gases during adsorption in specific ways on selected materials. Fine-tuning is normally achieved by morphological control and material doping. The latter relates surface properties to the electronic structure of the bulk, and this suggests the possibility of electronic control. Although unusual for catalytic surfaces, such phenomena are sometimes reported for microsensors, but with little understanding of the underlying mechanisms. Herein, direct observation of the electroadsorptive effect by a combination of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and conductivity analysis on nanometre-thick semiconductor films on buried control electrodes …

Photoinduced ultrafast dye-to-semiconductor electron injection from nonthermalized and thermalized donor states.

2001

Electron injection from the transition metal complex Ru(dcbpy)(2)(NCS)(2) (dcbpy = 4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine) into a titanium dioxide nanocrystalline film occurs on the femto- and picosecond time scales. Here we show that the dominating part of the electron transfer proceeds extremely rapidly from the initially populated, vibronically nonthermalized, singlet excited state, prior to electronic and nuclear relaxation of the molecule. The results are especially relevant to the understanding and design of molecular-based photovoltaic devices and artificial photosynthetic assemblies.

Semiconducting Clathrates Meet Gas Hydrates: Xe24[Sn136]

2014

Semiconducting Group 14 clathrates are inorganic host–guest materials with a close structural relationship to gas hydrates. Here we utilize this inherent structural relationship to derive a new class of porous semiconductor materials: noble gas filled Group 14 clathrates (Ngx[M136], Ng=Ar, Kr, Xe and M=Si, Ge, Sn). We have carried out high-level quantum chemical studies using periodic Local-MP2 (LMP2) and dispersion-corrected density functional methods (DFT-B3LYP-D3) to properly describe the dispersive host–guest interactions. The adsorption of noble gas atoms within clathrate-II framework turned out to be energetically clearly favorable for several host–guest systems. For the energetically…

Influence of synthesis conditions on the performance of chitosan–Heteropolyacid complexes as membranes for low temperature H2–O2 fuel cell

2015

Flat, free-standing chitosan/phosphotungstic acid (PTA) polyelectrolyte membranes were prepared by in-situ ionotropic gelation process at room temperature on porous alumina support firstly impregnated by H3PW12O40. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the formation of compact and homogeneous membranes, whose thickness resulted to be dependent on chitosan concentration and reticulation time. X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) evidenced the formation of almost amorphous membrane without appreciable concentration of not protonated NH2 groups and PTA3- ions with preserved Keggin structure. Membranes were tested as proton conductor in low temperature H2-O2 fuel…

Chitosan-phosphotungstic acid complex as membranes for low temperature H2-O2 fuel cell

2015

Abstract Free-standing Chitosan/phosphotungstic acid polyelectrolyte membranes were prepared by an easy and fast in-situ ionotropic gelation process performed at room temperature. Scanning electron microscopy was employed to study their morphological features and their thickness as a function of the chitosan concentration. The membrane was tested as proton conductor in low temperature H 2 –O 2 fuel cell allowing to get peak power densities up to 350 mW cm −2 . Electrochemical impedance measurements allowed to estimate a polyelectrolyte conductivity of 18 mS cm −1 .

Light-harvesting chlorophyll protein (LHCII) drives electron transfer in semiconductor nanocrystals

2017

Type-II quantum dots (QDs) are capable of light-driven charge separation between their core and the shell structures; however, their light absorption is limited in the longer-wavelength range. Biological light-harvesting complex II (LHCII) efficiently absorbs in the blue and red spectral domains. Therefore, hybrid complexes of these two structures may be promising candidates for photovoltaic applications. Previous measurements had shown that LHCII bound to QD can transfer its excitation energy to the latter, as indicated by the fluorescence emissions of LHCII and QD being quenched and sensitized, respectively. In the presence of methyl viologen (MV), both fluorescence emissions are quenched…