K2Ti4O9 has been known as a photocatalyst for the oxidation of methanol under UV irradiation. Here we study the evolution of morphology, optical, and photocatalytic properties of this titanate as it is converted into H2Ti4O9 and subsequently exfoliated into individual tetrabutylammonium (TBA)-supported [Ti4O9]2- nanosheets. We find that proton exchange and exfoliation are accompanied by a red shift of the optical absorption edge and fluorescence maximum, suggesting a reduction of the bandgap in the series K2Ti4O9 (3.54 eV), H2Ti4O9 (3.25 eV), TBA2Ti4O9 (3.00 eV). Neither compound is active for photochemical water splitting, even after photochemical deposition of platinum nanoparticles. However, in aqueous methanol, all platinated compounds are moderately active for H2 evolution upon bandgap irradiation, and in 0.01 M AgNO3, they all produce moderate quantities of O2. From the onset potentials for photoelectrochemical methanol oxidation, the values for the valence band edges at pH = 7 are deduced to lie between −0.23 and −0.53 V (NHE) for the nonplatinated compounds, and at +0.08 V and −0.30 V for the platinated compounds. This Pt-induced decrease of negative charge on the titanates is likely due to Fermi level equilibration of metal and semiconductor. Its effect can also be seen in a shift of the onset potentials for electrochemical water oxidation, as measured by cyclic voltammetry. Transient absorption data reveal that photogenerated electrons become trapped in mid band gap states, from which they decay exponentially with a time-constant of 43.67 ± 0.28 ms, much slower than observed for 68 ± 1 ns for TiO2 nanocrystals (Degussa, P25).

A microwave-assisted reaction has been developed to produce hydrogen-terminated silicon (Si) quantum dots (QDs). The Si QDs were passivated for water solubility via two different methods: hydrosilylation produced 3-aminopropenyl-terminated and a modified Stöber process produced silica-encapsulated Si QDs. Each method produces water soluble QDs with maximum emission at 414 nm and after purification exhibit intrinsic fluorescence quantum yield efficiencies of 15 % and 23 %, respectively. Even though the QDs have different surfaces, they exhibit near identical absorption and fluorescent spectra. Femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy was used to temporally resolve the photoexcited carrier dynamics between the QDs and ligand. The transient dynamics of the 3-aminopropenyl-terminated Si QDs is interpreted as a formation and decay of an excited-state charge transfer (CT) state between the delocalized π electrons of the carbon linker with the Si core excitons. This CT state is stable for ~4 ns before reverting back to a more stable long-living species. The silica-encapsulated Si QDs show a simpler spectrum without CT dynamics.

The photocatalytic H2O splitting activities of CdSe and CdSe/CdS core/shell quantum dots are contrasted. CdSe/CdS core/shell quantum dots constructed from 4.0 nm CdSe quantum dots are shown to be strongly active for visible-light-driven photocatalytic H2 evolution in 0.1 M Na2S/Na2SO3 solution with a turnover number of 9.94 after 5 h at 103.9 μmol/h. CdSe quantum dots themselves are only marginally active in 0.1 M Na2S/Na2SO3 solution with a turnover number of 1.10 after 5 h at 11.53 μmol/h, while CdSe quantum dots in pure H2O are found to be completely inactive. Broad-band transient absorption spectroscopy is used to elucidate the mechanisms that facilitate the enhancement in the CdSe core/shell quantum dots, which is attributed to passivation of surface-deep trap states with energies lying below the reduction potential necessary for H2O reduction. Thus, surface trapping dynamics and energetics can be manipulated to dictate the photocatalytic activities of novel CdSe quantum dot based photocatalytic materials.

Cyanobacteriochromes (CBCRs) are diverse biliprotein photosensors distantly related to the red/far-red photoreceptors of the phytochrome family. There are several subfamilies of CBCRs, displaying varied spectral responses spanning the entire visible region. Tlr0924 belongs to the DXCF subfamily that utilizes the Cys residue in a conserved Asp-Xaa-Cys-Phe (DXCF) motif to form a second covalent linkage to the chromophore, resulting in a blue-absorbing dark state. Photoconversion leads to elimination of this linkage, resulting in a green-absorbing photoproduct. Tlr0924 initially incorporates phycocyanobilin (PCB) as a chromophore, exhibiting a blue/orange photocycle, but slowly isomerizes PCB to phycoviolobilin (PVB) to yield a blue/green photocycle. Ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy was used to study both forward and reverse reaction photodynamics of the recombinant GAF domain of Tlr0924. Primary photoproducts were identified, as were subsequent intermediates at 1 ms. PCB and PVB population photodynamics were decomposed using global target analysis. PCB and PVB populations exhibit similar and parallel photocycles in Tlr0924, but the PVB population exhibits faster excited-state decay in both reaction directions. On the basis of longer time analysis, we show that the photochemical coordinate (15,16-isomerization) and second-linkage coordinate (elimination or bond formation at C10) are separate processes in both directions.

In this article, we report the fluorescence emission of Disperse Red 1 in solution at room temperature and pumping at 532 nm with a 25 mW diode laser. We have measured its fluorescence quantum yield in methanol, ethylene glycol, glycerol, and phenol obtaining values as high as 10(-3) in the aliphatic alcohols. The excitation spectra of Disperse Red 1 in all four solvents as well as its excitation anisotropy in glycerol are presented. Applying a Gaussian decomposition method to the absorption spectra along with the support from the excitation spectra, the positions of the different transitions in this pseudo-stilbene azobenzene dye were determined. Solvatochromic and isomerization constraint effects are discussed. Calculations using density functional theory at TD-B3LYP/6-31G*//HF/6-31G* level were performed to interpret the experimental observations.