Synthesis and Formation Mechanism of Colloidal Janus-Type CuS/CuInS Heteronanorods Seeded Injection.

Colloidal heteronanocrystals allow for the synergistic combination of properties of different materials. For example, spatial separation of the photogenerated electron and hole can be achieved by coupling different semiconductors with suitable band offsets in one single nanocrystal, which is beneficial for improving the efficiency of photocatalysts and photovoltaic devices. From this perspective, axially segmented semiconductor heteronanorods with a type-II band alignment are particularly attractive since they ensure the accessibility of both photogenerated charge carriers.

Probing Electric Double-Layer Composition via in Situ Vibrational Spectroscopy and Molecular Simulations.

At an electrode, ions and solvent accumulate to screen charge, leading to a nanometer-scale electric double layer (EDL). The EDL guides electrode passivation in batteries, while in (super)capacitors, it determines charge storage capacity. Despite its importance, quantification of the nanometer-scale and potential-dependent EDL remains a challenging problem.

Water-Dispersible Copper Sulfide Nanocrystals via Ligand Exchange of 1-Dodecanethiol.

In colloidal Cu S nanocrystal synthesis, thiols are often used as organic ligands and the sulfur source, as they yield high-quality nanocrystals. However, thiol ligands on Cu S nanocrystals are difficult to exchange, limiting the applications of these nanocrystals in photovoltaics, biomedical sensing, and photocatalysis. Here, we present an effective and facile procedure to exchange native 1-dodecanethiol on Cu S nanocrystals by 3-mercaptopropionate, 11-mercaptoundecanoate, and S in formamide under inert atmosphere.

In situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy of transition metal based water oxidation catalysts.

X-ray absorption studies of the geometric and electronic structure of primarily heterogeneous Co, Ni, and Mn based water oxidation catalysts are reviewed. The X-ray absorption near edge and extended X-ray absorption fine structure studies of the metal K-edge, characterize the metal oxidation state, metal-oxygen bond distance, metal-metal distance, and degree of disorder of the catalysts. These properties guide the coordination environment of the transition metal oxide radical that localizes surface holes and is required to oxidize water.