Efficient catalytic decomposition of sulfuric acid with copper vanadates as an oxygen-generating reaction for solar thermochemical water splitting cycles.

Copper pyrovanadate (Cu(2)V(2)O(7)) was found for the first time to achieve the high catalytic activity for the decomposition of sulfuric acid to evolve O(2) at moderate temperatures around 650 °C, which is essential for the development of solar thermochemical water splitting cycles.

Catalytic activity and regeneration property of a Pd nanoparticle encapsulated in a hollow porous carbon sphere for aerobic alcohol oxidation.

A core-shell composite consisting of a palladium (Pd) nanoparticle and a hollow carbon shell (Pd@hmC) was employed as a catalyst for aerobic oxidation of various alcohols. The core-shell structure was synthesized by consecutive coatings of Pd nanoparticles with siliceous and carbon layers followed by removal of the intermediate siliceous layer. Structural characterizations using TEM and N(2) adsorption-desorption measurements revealed that Pd@hmC thus-obtained was composed of a Pd nanoparticle core of 3-6 nm in diameter and a hollow carbon shell with well-developed mesopore (ca.

Drastic changes in photoluminescence properties of multilayer films composed of europium hydroxide and titanium oxide nanosheets.

Multilayer films consisting of Eu(OH)(3-x) and titanium oxide nanosheets showed strong Eu(3+) emission under UV-light irradiation, in which the titanium oxide nanosheet works as an antenna collecting UV-light, and then the Eu(OH)(3-x) nanosheet acts as an emitting layer receiving the absorbed energy.

An exploration of nitrate concentrations in groundwater aquifers of central-west region of Bangladesh.

Groundwater and river water samples were collected from the study area to investigate the spatial distribution of nitrate (NO(3)(-)) in the central-west region of Bangladesh. The shallow and deep groundwater nitrate concentrations ranged from <0.10 to 75.

Photocatalytic property and electronic structure of triple-layered perovskite tantalates, MCa2Ta3O10 (M = Cs, Na, H, and C6H13NH3).

The Dion-Jacobson series of triple-layered perovskite tantalates (MCa2Ta3O10, M = Cs, Na, H, and C6H13NH3) were synthesized to evaluate their photocatalytic activity for overall water splitting to evolve H2/O2 under UV irradiation. The photocatalytic activity was susceptible to the hydration of interlayer space. The hydrous Na phase exhibited much higher activity (H2: 308 micromol.

Electrocatalytic nitrate hydrogenation over an H+ -conducting solid polymer electrolyte membrane-modified cathode assembly.

Selective electrocatalytic hydrogenation of NO3- to N2 in water has successfully been achieved at room temperature using a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) consisting of an H+ -conducting solid polymer electrolyte (Nafion-117) and a surface-modified Pt cathode.

Asymmetrically modified silica particles: a simple particulate surfactant for stabilization of oil droplets in water.

Spherical silica particles that are able to assemble at a phase boundary of a dual-phase mixture of water and an immiscible organic solvent were prepared by a partial modification of their surface hydroxyl groups with an alkylsilylation agent. Scanning electron microscopic observation of these particles in which their remaining surface hydroxyl groups had been selectively modified with colloidal gold particles revealed that each particle has an asymmetric surface structure: one side of the surface is hydrophilic and the other is hydrophobic. We found that these particles could form a micellar structure in water in the presence of an organic solution of a toluene/polystyrene mixture.