Au-CuTe Plasmonic Heteronanostructure Photoelectrocatalysts.

Semiconductor nanocrystals coupled with plasmonic Au nanoparticles have been widely studied as photoelectrocatalysts for solar water splitting. Among these, heterostructures of copper chalcogenides with Au remained a unique category for their dual plasmon character. However, while sulfides and selenides of copper have been extensively reported, heterostructures of copper tellurides with Au have not been explored.

Acid-Amine Equilibria for Formation and Long-Range Self-Organization of Ultrathin CsPbBr Perovskite Platelets.

Impact of acid-amine equilibrium for triggering the formation of CsPbBr platelets and subsequent long-range self-assembly as a function of acid concentration is reported. The study was performed by treating Cs precursor followed by oleic acid to the ongoing process of LPbBr layered perovskites formation at room temperature, and this led to the thinnest possible platelets of CsPbBr with one atomic layer of Cs insertion. These platelets form self-assembly in the micrometer range, and this ordering was tuned as a function of oleic acid concentration and reaction time.

Fluorescence enhancement via varied long-chain thiol stabilized gold nanoparticles: A study of far-field effect.

Metal enhanced fluorescence of carbon dots has been reported in aqueous solution. Moderately fluorescing carbon dots (λ=360nm and λ=440nm) of 6-8nm diameters (CDA) have been synthesized from freshly prepared aqueous ascorbic acid solution under modified hydrothermal treatment. The CDA fluorescence is quenched at the close proximity with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs).

Metal Semiconductor Heterostructures for Photocatalytic Conversion of Light Energy.

For fast separation of the photogenerated charge carriers, metal semiconductor heterostructures have emerged as one of the leading materials in recent years. Among these, metal Au coupled with low bandgap semiconductors remain as ideal materials where both can absorb the solar light in the visible region. It is also established that on excitation, the plasmonic state of gold interacts with excited state of semiconductor and helps for the delocalization of the photogenerated electrons.

Evolution of amorphous selenium nanoballs in silicone oil and their solvent induced morphological transformation.

Selenium generally exhibits preferential habitual 1D growth as a result of redox reactions of selenium compounds. Commercial Se powder melts in silicone oil under refluxing conditions and upon subsequent cooling evolve amorphous Se nanoballs (SNBs). Further ultrapure crystalline 1D Se grows from SNBs due to solvent mediated oriented attachment.