Complementary Reducing Agents are Responsible for Temporally Distinct Nucleation and Growth Phases during the Polyol Synthesis of Ag Nanocubes.

Ethylene glycol or one of its oxidation products are believed to serve as reducing agents in the shape-controlled synthesis of Ag nanocubes (NCs) by the polyol process. The identity of end-groups of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) impacts shape control with alcohol and aldehyde moieties serving as a primary Ag reducing agent. We explored the role of PVP end-groups in the polyol process by measuring the dependence of particle number density of Ag NCs produced on the initial concentration(s) of Ag and PVP using small angle x-ray scattering and statistically large particle size distributions analyzed by scanning electron microscopy.

Observations of Ethylene-for-CO Ligand Exchanges on a Zeolite-Supported Single-Site Rh Catalyst by X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy.

Quick-scanning X-ray absorption fine structure (QXAFS) measurements were used to characterize the exchanges of ethylene and CO ligands in a zeolite HY-supported single-site Rh complex at a sampling rate of 1.0 Hz. The two ligands were reversibly exchanged on the rhodium, with quantitative results determined for the CH-for-CO exchange that are consistent with a first-order process.

Insights into Copper Sulfide Formation from Cu and S K edge XAS and DFT studies.

An understanding of the fundamentals of the reaction between CuO with trace amounts of HS to form CuS products is critical for the optimal utilization of this process in sulfur removal applications. Unfortunately, CuS is a complex material, featuring various CuS compounds (with 0 ≤ ≤ 1), distorted crystal phases, and varying electronic structures and coordination environments of Cu and S ions. In this work, we combine and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) at S and Cu K edges, fixed bed sorption experiments, DFT simulations, and other characterization techniques to speciate the CuS products formed at different temperatures (298-383 K) and from CuO sorbents with different crystallite sizes (2.

Morphological Contributions to Interfacial Charge Trapping and Nongeminate Recombination in Polymer Solar Cells Revealed by UV Light Soaking.

Nongeminate charge recombination occurs over a broad range of time scales in polymer solar cells and represents a serious loss channel for the performance and lifetime of devices. Multiple factors influence this process, including changes in morphology and formation of permanent defects, but individual contributions are often difficult to resolve from conventional experiments. We use intensity modulated photocurrent/photovoltage spectroscopy (IMPS/IMVS) to investigate nongeminate charge recombination in blends of poly[2,6-(4,4-bis-(2-ethylhexyl)-4 H-cyclopenta [2,1- b;3,4- b']dithiophene)- alt-4,7(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole)] (PCPDTBT) and [6,6]-phenyl-C-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) solar cells.

High precision fractionator for use with density gradient ultracentrifugation.

The recent application of density gradient ultracentrifugation (DGU) for structural sorting of single-walled carbon nanotube samples has created a need for highly selective extraction of closely spaced layers formed in the centrifuged tube. We describe a novel computer-controlled device designed for this purpose. Through the use of fine needles, systematic needle motions, and slow flow rates, multiple sample layers can be aspirated under program control with minimal cross contamination between layers.