A ligand-induced homojunction between aluminum-based superatomic clusters

Charge donating ligands can induce a significant energy level shift across a homojunction between aluminum-based superatomic clusters.

Cyclodextrin inhibits zinc corrosion by destabilizing point defect formation in the oxide layer

Corrosion inhibitors are added in low concentrations to corrosive solutions for reducing the corrosion rate of a metallic material. Their mechanism of action is typically the blocking of free metal surface by adsorption, thus slowing down dissolution. This work uses electrochemical impedance spectroscopy to show the cyclic oligosaccharide β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) to inhibit corrosion of zinc in 0.1M chloride with an inhibition efficiency of up to 85%. Only a monomolecular adsorption layer of β-CD is present on the surface of the oxide covered metal, with Raman spectra of the interface proving the adsorption of the intact β-CD. Angular dependent X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (ADXPS) and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) were used to extract a band-like diagram of the β-CD/ZnO interface, showing a large energy level shift at the interface, closely resembling the energy level alignment in an n–p junction. The energy level shift is too large to permit further electron transfer through the layer, inhibiting corrosion. Adsorption hence changes the defect density in the protecting ZnO layer. This mechanism of corrosion inhibition shows that affecting the defect chemistry of passivating films by molecular inhibitors maybe a viable strategy to control corrosion of metals.

Size-Dependent Optical Properties of Nanoscale and Bulk Long Persistent Phosphor SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+

Nanoscale long persistent phosphor SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+was prepared by autocombustion of citrate gel. The energy level shift of activator Eu2+and coactivator Dy3+was analyzed according to the emission and the excitation spectra. The band gap change of SrAl2O4and the resulting trap depth change with particle size were discussed on the basis of analyzing the visible spectra, the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) excitation spectra, and the thermoluminescence (TL) spectra. The fluorescence quenching and the shallow traps originating from surface adsorption or surface defects explain the weak initial persistent phosphorescence and the fast phosphorescence decay in nanometer SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+. It is confirmed that energy level, band gap, trap depth, defect, and surface adsorption are deeply related with each other in this nanoscale long persistent phosphor.