Light-Induced Defect Formation and Pt Single Atoms Synergistically Boost Photocatalytic H2 Production in 2D TiO2-Bronze Nanosheets ?

Ultrathin two-dimensional (2D) semiconductor nanosheets decorated with single atomic species (SAs) have recently attracted increasing attention due to their abundant surface-exposed reactive sites and maximum SAs binding capabilities thus lowering the catalyst cost, without sacrificing high performance for photocatalytic hydrogen (H2) production from water. Here, we present a strategy to prepare titanium dioxide-bronze nanosheets (TiO2-BNS) and H2-reduced TiO2 nanosheets (TiO2- HRNS) synthesized, characterized, and applied for photocatalytic H2 production. Surprisingly, black TiO2-HRNS show complete photo inactivity, while the TiO2-BNS-Pt0.05 nanohybrid shows excellent H2 production rate with a very low loading of 0.05 wt % Pt. TiO2-BNS-Pt0.05 presents around 10 and 99 times higher photocatalytic rate than pristine TiO2-BNS under solar and 365 nm UV-LED light irradiation, respectively. Due to the 2D morphology and the presence of abundant coordinating sites, the successful formation of widely dispersed Pt SAs was achieved. Most excitingly, the in situ formation of surface-exposed defect sites (Ti3+) was observed for TiO2-BNS under light illumination, suggesting their significant role in enhancing the H2 production rate. This self-activation and amplification behavior of TiO2-BNS can be extended to other 2D systems and applied to other photocatalytic reactions, thus providing a facile approach for fully utilizing noble metal catalysts via the successful formation of SAs

High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering of CIGS Thin Films for High Efficiency Thin Film Solar Cells

In this work CuIn1-xGaxSe2 (CIGS) thin films with three different values of x (0; 0.28; 1) were preparedby nonreactive sputtering of Cu, In and Ga in HiPIMS (High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering) orDC magnetron and subsequently selenized in an Ar+Se atmosphere. Optical emission spectroscopy(OES) was used to monitor some basic plasma parameters during sputtering of metallic precursors. CIGSthin film characteristics were measured using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy(SEM), Raman spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and other techniques

Defect engineering over anisotropic brookite toward substrate-specific photo-oxidation of alcohols

Generally adopted strategies for enhancing the photocatalytic activity are aimed at tuning the visible light response, the exposed crystal facets, and the nanocrystal shape. Here, we present a different approach for designing efficient photocatalysts displaying a substrate-specific reactivity upon defect engineering. The platinized, defective anisotropic brookite TiO2 photocatalysts are tested for alcohol photoreforming showing up to an 11-fold increase in methanol oxidation rate, compared with the pristine one, while presenting much lower ethanol or isopropanol specific oxidation rates. We demonstrate that the substrate- specific alcohol oxidation and hydrogen evolution reactions are tightly related, and when the former is increased, the latter is boosted. The reduced anisotropic brookite shows up to 18-fold higher specific photoactivity with respect to anatase and brookite with isotropic nanocrystals. Advanced in situ characterizations and theoretical investigations reveal that controlled engineering over oxygen vacancies and lattice strain produces large electron polarons hosting the substratespecific active sites for alcohol photo-oxidation

Graphene-based metal-organic framework hybrids for applications in catalysis, environmental, and energy technologies

Current energy and environmental challenges demand the development and design of multifunctional porous materials with tunable properties for catalysis, water purification, and energy conversion and storage. Because of their amenability to de novo reticular chemistry, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have become key materials in this area. However, their usefulness is often limited by low chemical stability, conductivity and inappropriate pore sizes. Conductive two-dimensional (2D) materials with robust structural skeletons and/or functionalized surfaces can form stabilizing interactions with MOF components, enabling the fabrication of MOF nanocomposites with tunable pore characteristics. Graphene and its functional derivatives are the largest class of 2D materials and possess remarkable compositional versatility, structural diversity, and controllable surface chemistry. Here, we critically review current knowledge concerning the growth, structure, and properties of graphene derivatives, MOFs, and their graphene@MOF composites as well as the associated structure- property-performance relationships. Synthetic strategies for preparing graphene@MOF composites and tuning their properties are also comprehensively reviewed together with their applications in gas storage/separation, water purification, catalysis (organo-, electro-, and photocatalysis), and electrochemical energy storage and conversion. Current challenges in the development of graphene@MOF hybrids and their practical applications are addressed, revealing areas for future investigation. We hope that this review will inspire further exploration of new graphene@MOF hybrids for energy, electronic, biomedical, and photocatalysis applications as well as studies on previously unreported properties of known hybrids to reveal potential "diamonds in the rough".Web of Science12224173381724

Diferenciação analítica de vinhos-base para espumantes de duas regiões vitícolas do Rio Grande do Sul

Os objetivos deste trabalho foram caracterizar e diferenciar vinhos-base para espumante (cultivares ‘Chardonnay’ e ‘Pinot Noir’) provenientes da Serra do Nordeste e Serra do Sudeste do Rio Grande do Sul por meio de parâmetros físico-químicos e elementos minerais combinados com técnicas de análise multivariada. Foram analisados nove parâmetros físico-químicos (densidade, grau alcoólico, extrato seco total, extrato seco reduzido, acidez total, acidez volátil, acidez fixa, pH e açúcares redutores), por espectrofotometria no infravermelho, e 11 elementos minerais (Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na e Sr), por espectrometria de emissão ótica com plasma indutivamente acoplado (ICP-OES). Os elementos encontrados em maiores concentrações foram K, Mg e Ca e, em menores concentrações, Ba, Fe, Sr e Al. A Análise de Componentes Principais (ACP) mostrou que há uma tendência natural de separação entre os vinhos-base da Serra do Nordeste e Serra do Sudeste. Por meio da Análise Discriminante (AD) foram obtidos cinco descritores (Mg, Ca, Mn, pH e grau alcoólico) para os vinhos-base da cultivar ‘Chardonnay’ e seis descritores (B, Mn, Fe, Na, pH e acidez volátil) para a cultivar ‘Pinot Noir’, com capacidade de classificar as amostras de vinhos-base de acordo com a origem geográfica. Os elementos Mn e Mg parecem ser aqueles com maior capacidade de discriminação entre os vinhos-base da Serra do Nordeste e Serra do Sudeste.This research describes the base wines characterization and differentiation (cultivars Chardonnay and Pinot Noir) from Serra do Nordeste and Serra do Sudeste of Rio Grande do Sul by physicochemical parameters and mineral elements followed by multivariate statistical analysis. Nine physicochemical parameters (density, alcoholic content, total dry extract, reduced dry extract, total acidity, volatile acidity, fix acidity, pH and reducing sugars) were analyzed by infrared spectrofotometry and eleven mineral elements (Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na and Sr) by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Elements K, Mg, and Ca were founded in higher concentrations and Ba, Fe, Sr, and Al were founded in lower ones. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) showed a natural separation tendency between wines from Serra do Nordeste and Serra do Sudeste. Five descriptors were obtained by Discriminant Analysis (DA) for base wines from cultivar Chardonnay (Mg, Ca, Mn, pH and alcoholic content) and six descriptors for base wines from cultivar Pinot Noir (B, Mn, Fe, Na, pH and volatile acidity). These descriptors were capable to classify samples of base wines according to geographical origin. Mn and Mg elements seem to be the elements with higher discrimination capacity between base wines from northwest Serra and Southeast Serra

Gradient tantalum-doped hematite homojunction photoanode improves both photocurrents and turn-on voltage for solar water splitting

Hematite has a great potential as a photoanode for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting by converting solar energy into hydrogen fuels, but the solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency of state-of-the-art hematite photoelectrodes are still far below the values required for practical hydrogen production. Here, we report a core-shell formation of gradient tantalum-doped hematite homojunction nanorods by combination of hydrothermal regrowth strategy and hybrid microwave annealing, which enhances the photocurrent density and reduces the turn-on voltage simultaneously. The unusual bi-functional effects originate from the passivation of the surface states and intrinsic built-in electric field by the homojunction formation. The additional driving force provided by the field can effectively suppress charge???carrier recombination both in the bulk and on the surface of hematite, especially at lower potentials. Moreover, the synthesized homojunction shows a remarkable synergy with NiFe(OH)x cocatalyst with significant additional improvements of photocurrent density and cathodic shift of turn-on voltage. The work has nicely demonstrated multiple collaborative strategies of gradient doping, homojunction formation, and cocatalyst modification, and the concept could shed light on designing and constructing the efficient nanostructures of semiconductor photoelectrodes in the field of solar energy conversion. ?? 2020, The Author(s)

First record of the alien lace bug Stephanitis pyrioides in Greece and note on Corythucha ciliata from Portugal (Heteroptera: Tingidae)

Kment, P. (2007): First record of the alien lace bug Stephanitis pyrioides in Greece and note on Corythucha ciliata from Portugal (Heteroptera: Tingidae). Linzer biologische Beiträge 39 (1): 421-42