Enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity of mesoporous TiO(2-x)N(x) derived from the ethylenediamine-based complex.

A facile solvent evaporation induced self-assembly (SEISA) strategy was developed to synthesize mesoporous N-doped anatase TiO2 (SE-meso-TON) using a single organic complex precursor derived in situ from titanium butoxide and ethylenediamine in ethanol solution. After the evaporation of ethanol in a fume hood and subsequent calcinations at 450 °C, the obtained N-doped TiO2 (meso-TON) anatase was of finite crystallite size, developed porosity, large surface area (101 m(2) g(-1)) and extended light absorption in the visible region. This SE-meso-TON also showed superior photocatalytic activity to the SG-meso-TON anatase prepared via sol-gel synthesis.

To alloy or not to alloy? Cr modified Pt/C cathode catalysts for PEM fuel cells.

The cathode electrocatalysts for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells are commonly platinum and platinum based alloy nanoparticles dispersed on a carbon support. Control over the particle size and composition has, historically, been attained empirically, making systematic studies of the effects of various structural parameters difficult. The controlled surface modification methodology used in this work has enabled the controlled modification of carbon supported Pt nanoparticles by Cr so as to yield nanoalloy particles with defined compositions.