This brief review aims at analyzing the use of dyestuffs for evaluating the photocatalytic properties of novel photocatalysts. It is shown that the use of dyes as predictors for photocatalytic activity has its roots in the pre visible-light activity era, when the aim was to treat effluents streams containing hazardous dyes. The main conclusion of this review is that, in general, dyes are inappr...

This work is an experimental study of the diamagnetic cavity created by a dense laser-produced plasma ~initially, n lpp /n0@1) expanding into an ambient magnetized background plasma (n052 310 cm) capable of supporting Alfvén waves. The experiments are carried out on the upgraded Large Plasma Device @W. Gekelman, H. Pfister, Z. Lucky, J. Bamber, D. Leneman, and J. Maggs, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 62, 2...

Carbon nanotubes feature excellent electronic properties but narrow absorption bands limit their utility in certain optoelectronic devices, including photovoltaic cells. Here, the addition of a wide-bandgap gap oligomer enhances light absorption in the visible spectrum. Furthermore, the oligomer interacts with the carbon nanotube through a peculiar charge transfer, which provides insight into T...

Due to limitations in device speed and performance of silicon-based electronics, silicon optoelectronics has been extensively studied to achieve ultrafast optical-data processing1-3. However, the biggest challenge has been to develop an efficient silicon-based light source since indirect band-gap of silicon gives rise to extremely low emission efficiency. Although light emission in quantum-conf...

First-principle calculations have been carried out to investigate structural stabilities, electronic structures and optical properties of tungsten doped bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl). The structures of substitutional and interstitial tungsten, and in the form of WO6-ligand-doped BiOCl are examined. The substitutional and interstitial tungsten doping leads to discrete midgap states within the forb...

The electronic and optical properties of the rare earth metal atom-doped anatase TiO₂ have been investigated systematically via density functional theory calculations. The results show that TiO₂ doped by Ce or Pr is the optimal choice because of its small band gap and strong optical absorption. Rare earth metal atom doping induces several impurity states that tune the location of valence and co...

HIGHLIGHTS A facial method was used to fabricate BiOI/BiOCl film at room temperature.30% BiOI/BiOCl showed an excellent photocatalytic activity and stability.Improvement of photocatalytic activity was owed to expanded visible light absorption and high separation efficiency of charge. Photocatalysis has been considered to be one of the most promising ways to photodegrade organic pollutants. Here...

Recently, significant advances have occurred in the development of phosphors for bio hybrid light-emitting diodes (Bio-HLEDs), which have created brighter, metal-free, rare-earth phosphor-free, eco-friendly, and cost-competitive features for visible light emission. Here, we demonstrate an original approach using bioinspired phosphors in Bio-HLEDs based on natural deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)-cur...

Considering light absorption by narrowing the band gap and gas capture by the mesostructure and basicity of material, an efficient artificial photosynthesis system was constructed based on a mesoporous ZnAl(2)O(4)-modified ZnGaNO photocatalyst.

Three-dimensional (3D) TiO2 with an acanthosphere-like morphology composed of nanothorns has been used as a suitable support to fabricate a visible-light-induced 3D AgI@TiO2 nanophotocatalyst. The structural characterization revealed that the size of the obtained AgI@TiO2 nanocomposite was close to that of pristine TiO2 particles, where AgI nanoparticles were evenly dispersed on the surfaces of...