| 1. |
- Cant, David J. H., et al.
(författare)
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Surface Properties of Nanocrystalline PbS Films Deposited at the Water-Oil Interface: A Study of Atmospheric Aging
- 2015
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Ingår i: Langmuir. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0743-7463 .- 1520-5827. ; 31:4, s. 1445-1453
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Nanocrystalline thin films of PbS are obtained in a straightforward reaction by precipitation at the interface between toluene (containing a Pb precursor) and water (containing Na2S). Lead thiobiuret [Pb(SON(CN(i)Pr-2)(2))(2)] and lead diethyldithiocarbamate [Pb(S2CNEt2)(2)] precursors are used. The films are characterized by X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy, revealing typical particle sizes of 10-40 nm and preferred (200) orientation. Synchrotron-excited depth-profiling X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is used to determine the depth-dependent chemical composition as a function of surface aging in air for periods of up to 9 months. The as-synthesized films show a 1:1 Pb/S composition. Initial degradation occurs to form lead hydroxide and small quantities of surface-adsorbed -SH species. A lead-deficient Pb1-xS phase is produced as the aging proceeds. Oxidation of the sulfur occurs later to form sulfite and sulfate products that are highly localized at the surface layers of the nanocrystals. These species show logarithmic growth kinetics, demonstrating that the sulfite/sulfate layer acts to passivate the nanocrystals. Our results demonstrate that the initial reaction of the PbS nanocrystals (forming lead hydroxide) is incongruent. The results are discussed in the context of the use of PbS nanocrystals as light-harvesting elements in next-generation solar technology.
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| 2. |
- Cole, Jordan, et al.
(författare)
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In situ XPS of competitive CO2/H2O absorption in an ionic liquid
- 2023
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Ingår i: JPhys Materials. - 2515-7639. ; 6:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Superbasic ionic liquids (SBILs) are being investigated as potential carbon dioxide (CO2) gas capture agents, however, the presence of H2O in the flue stream can inhibit the uptake of CO2. In this study a thin film of the SBIL trihexyltetradecylphosphonium 1,2,4-triazolide ([P66614][124Triz]) was deposited onto rutile TiO2 (110) using in situ electrospray deposition and studied upon exposure to CO2 and H2O using in situ near-ambient pressure x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (NAP-XPS). The molar uptake ratio of gas in the electrosprayed SBIL (n gas :n IL) was calculated to be 0.3:1 for CO2, 0.7:1 for H2O, and 0.9:1 for a CO2/H2O mixture. NAP-XPS taken at two different depths reveals that the competitive absorption of CO2 and H2O in [P66614][124Triz] varies with sampling depth. A greater concentration of CO2 absorbs in the bulk layers, while more H2O adsorbs/absorbs at the surface. The presence of H2O in the gas mixture does not inhibit the absorption of CO2. Measurements taken during exposure and after the removal of gas indicate that CO2 absorbed in the bulk does so reversibly, whilst CO2 adsorbed/absorbed at the surface does so irreversibly. This is contrary to the fully reversible CO2 reaction shown for bulk ionic liquids (ILs) in literature and suggests that irreversible absorption of CO2 in our highly-structured thin films is largely attributed to reactions at the surface. This has potential implications on IL gas capture and thin film IL catalysis applications.
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| 3. |
- Syres, Karen L., et al.
(författare)
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Adsorbate-Induced Modification of Surface Electronic Structure: Pyrocatechol Adsorption on the Anatase TiO2 (101) and Rutile TiO2 (110) Surfaces
- 2012
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Ingår i: Journal of Physical Chemistry C. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1932-7447 .- 1932-7455. ; 116:44, s. 23515-23525
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Photoemission and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) techniques have been used to study the adsorption of pyrocatechol on anatase TiO2 (101) and rutile TiO2 (110) single crystals. Photoemission results suggest the pyrocatechol molecule adsorbs on both surfaces predominantly in a bidentate geometry. Using the searchlight effect, the carbon K-edge NEXAFS spectra recorded for pyrocatechol on anatase TiO2 (101) and rutile TiO2 (110) show the phenyl rings in the pyrocatechol molecule to be oriented at 27 +/- 6 degrees and 2.3 +/- 8 degrees, respectively, from the surface normal. Experimental data and computational models of the pyrocatechol-anatase TiO2 interface indicate the appearance of new occupied and unoccupied states on adsorption due to hybridization between the electronic states of the pyrocatechol molecule and the surface. The atomic character of the new orbitals created facilitates direct photoinjection from pyrocatechol into anatase TiO2 and induces a strong final state effect in the carbon K-edge NEXAFS spectrum.
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| 4. |
- Wagstaffe, Michael, et al.
(författare)
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An Experimental Investigation of the Adsorption of a Phosphonic Acid on the Anatase TiO2(101) Surface
- 2016
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Ingår i: Journal of Physical Chemistry C. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1932-7447 .- 1932-7455. ; 120:3, s. 1693-1700
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A combination of synchrotron radiation photoelectron spectroscopy and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy has been used to study the adsorption of phenylphosphonic acid (PPA) on anatase TiO2(101) single crystal at coverages of 0.15 monolayer (ML) and 0.85 ML. The photoelectron spectroscopy data suggest that at 0.15 ML coverage PPA adsorbs in a bidentate geometry following deprotonation of both phosphonate hydroxyl groups, leaving the P-O group unbound. At 0.85 ML there is a shift to a mixed bidentate/monodentate binding mode. The carbon K-edge NEXAFS spectra were recorded at two azimuths. Our calculations show that for PPA on anatase TiO2(101) the phenyl ring is oriented 65 +/- 4 degrees away from the surface plane with an azimuthal twist of 57 +/- 11 degrees away from the [101] azimuth.
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| 5. |
- Wagstaffe, Michael, et al.
(författare)
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Ionic Liquid Ordering at an Oxide Surface
- 2016
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Ingår i: ChemPhysChem. - : Wiley. - 1439-4235. ; 17:21, s. 3430-3434
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The interaction of the ionic liquid [C4C1Im][BF4] with anatase TiO2, a model photoanode material, has been studied using a combination of synchrotron radiation photoelectron spectroscopy and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy. The system is of interest as a model for fundamental electrolyte–electrode and dye-sensitized solar cells. The initial interaction involves degradation of the [BF4]− anion, resulting in incorporation of F into O vacancies in the anatase surface. At low coverages, [C4C1Im][BF4] is found to order at the anatase(101) surface via electrostatic attraction, with the imidazolium ring oriented 32±4° from the anatase TiO2 surface. As the coverage of ionic liquid increases, the influence of the oxide surface on the topmost layers is reduced and the ordering is lost.
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