Influence of the even-odd effect on the crystal structure, band structure and optical properties of hybrid crystals of the [HN-(CH)-NH]PbX ( = 4-8 and X = Cl, Br, and I) type.

In the presented work, the structure dependence as well as luminescence features of a wide range of hybrid crystals based on lead halides and a homologous series of alkyl diamines from 1,4-diaminobutane to 1,8-diaminooctane are investigated. The structure of several previously undescribed hybrid crystals has been established. The even-odd effect of alkanes and its influence on the structure of such hybrid crystals have been demonstrated for the first time.

Revisiting the BaBiO semiconductor photocatalyst: synthesis, characterization, electronic structure, and photocatalytic activity.

This article revisits the properties of BaBiO examined extensively in the last two decades because of its electronic properties as a superconductor and as a semiconductor photocatalyst. Solid-state syntheses of this bismuthate have often involved BaCO as the barium source, which may lead to the formation of BaBiO/BaCO heterostructures that could have an impact on the electronic properties and, more importantly, on the photocatalytic activity of this bismuthate. Accordingly, we synthesized BaBiO by a solid-state route to avoid the use of a carbonate; it was characterized by XRD, SEM, and EDX, while elemental mapping characterized the composition and the morphology of the crystalline BaBiO and its thin films with respect to structure, optoelectronic, and photocatalytic properties.

Synthesis, characterization, optoelectronic and photocatalytic properties of SrBiO/SrCO and SrBiO/SrCO heterostructures with varying SrCO content.

We report on the structure and properties of novel SrBiO/SrCO and SrBiO/SrCO heterostructures with SrCO content varying from 10 wt% to 90 wt%. Formation of the heterostructures is succeeded via sintering technique and according to XRD, SEM, and EDX studies has resulted in highly crystalline materials with well-defined carbonate-bismuthate interfaces. In the reaction of photodegradation of phenol in aqueous solution the heterostructures demonstrated photocatalytic activity exceeding that of TiO.

Effect of Composition on the Optical and Photocatalytic Properties of Visible Light Responsive Materials BiMgO.

We report the synthesis and the crystal and electronic structure as well as the optical and photocatalytic properties of novel photoactive materials of the general formula BiMgO. Two compounds with compositions of BiMgO and BiMgO are synthesized using the pyrolytic method. According to X-ray diffraction analysis, the materials are monocrystalline species.