We quantitatively investigate the size-dependent optical properties of colloidal PbS nanocrystals or quantum dots (Qdots) by combining-the Qdot absorbance spectra with detailed elemental analysis of the Qdot suspensions. At high energies, the molar extinction coefficient epsilon increases With the Not volume d(3) and agrees with theoretical calculations using the Maxwell-Garnett effective medium theory and bulk values for the Qdot dielectric function. This demonstrates that quantum confinement has no influence on E in this spectral range, and it provides an accurate method to calculate the Qdot concentration. Around the band gap, epsilon only increases with d(1.3), and values are comparable to the epsilon of PbSe Qdots. The data are related to the oscillator strength f(if) of the band gap transition and results agree well with theoretical tight-binding calculations, predicting a linear dependence of f(if) on d. For both PbS and PbSe Qdots, the exciton lifetime tau is calculated from f(if). We find values ranging between 1 and 3 mu s, in agreement with experimental literature data from time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy. Our results provide a thorough general framework to calculate and understand the optical properties of suspended colloidal quantum dots. Most importantly, it highlights the significance of the local field factor in these systems

We use 1H and 31P solution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to analyze the binding of phosphonic acid ligands to wurtzite CdSe quantum dots (CdSe QDs). CdSe QDs synthesized with phosphonic acids as a surfactant have a ligand shell composed of phosphonic acid and phosphonic acid anhydride moieties. Titrations of as-synthesized QDs with excess oleic acid do not induce desorption of phosphonic species, whereas titration of oleic-acid-exchanged QDs with excess phosphonic acid shows that the latter quantitatively replaces the oleic acid with a 1:1 stoichiometry. Both the stoichiometry of the oleic acid/phosponic acid exchange interaction and the ratio between the Cd surface excess and the ligand density indicate that phosponic acids bind as hydrogen phosphonates to the CdSe surface.

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was combined with UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy to determine the size, composition, and intrinsic absorption coefficient μ of 4 to 11 nm sized colloidal CsPbBr nanocrystals (NCs). The ICP-MS measurements demonstrate the nonstoichiometric nature of the NCs, with a systematic excess of lead for all samples studied. Rutherford backscattering measurements indicate that this enrichment in lead concurs with a relative increase in the bromide content. At high photon energies, μ is independent of the nanocrystal size. This allows the nanocrystal concentration in CsPbBr nanocolloids to be readily obtained by a combination of absorption spectroscopy and the CsPbBr sizing curve.

Lewis acid Snβ-type zeolites with varying amounts of Brønsted acid Al in the framework were synthesized using a simple two-step procedure comprising partial dealumination of β zeolite under action of acid, followed by grafting with SnCl4·5H2O in dry isopropanol. Characterization of the thus-prepared Al-containing Snβ (Sn/pDeAlβ) zeolites with ICP, (pyridine probed) FTIR, and 27Al MAS NMR demonstrates the presence of Brønsted acid framework AlIII. Tetrahedral Lewis acidic SnIV is present, as ascertained by a combination of techniques such as EPMA, 119Sn Möβbauer, XPS, (pyridine probed) FTIR, and UV–vis. A closed SnIV configuration was implied by comparing of 119Sn solid-state MAS NMR and deuterated acetonitrile probed FTIR spectra with literature. The catalytic activity of the Al-containing Snβ was tested for the conversion of 1,3-dihydroxyacetone (DHA) into ethyl lactate (ELA), proceeding via pyruvic aldehyde (PAL). Despite the difference in synthesis between the classic hydrothermal Snβ reference and Sn/pDeAlβ, the activity of Sn for the Lewis acid-catalyzed hydride shift of PAL to ELA is similar. Yet, the overall reaction rate of DHA into ELA is faster with Sn/pDeAlβ because Brønsted acidity of the remaining framework AlIII facilitates the rate-determining dehydration of DHA into PAL. Materials containing moderate amounts of Al (0.3 wt % Al) show the highest ELA productivities, leading to a record value of 2113 g ELA·kg catalyst–1·h–1 at 363 K. The cooperative effect of Lewis SnIV and Brønsted AlIII acid sites is verified by comparing catalytic data with physical mixtures of partially dealuminated β zeolite and Al-free Snβ.

Synthetic methods that allow for the controlled design of well-defined Pt nanoparticles are highly desirable for fundamental catalysis research. In this work, we propose a strategy that allows precise and independent control of the Pt particle size and coverage. Our approach exploits the versatility of the atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique by combining two ALD processes for Pt using different reactants. The particle areal density is controlled by tailoring the number of ALD cycles using trimethyl(methylcyclopentadienyl)platinum and oxygen, while subsequent growth using the same Pt precursor in combination with nitrogen plasma allows for tuning of the particle size at the atomic level. The excellent control over the particle morphology is clearly demonstrated by means of in situ and ex situ X-ray fluorescence and grazing incidence small angle X-ray scattering experiments, providing information about the Pt loading, average particle dimensions, and mean center-to-center particle distance.