ترغب بنشر مسار تعليمي؟ اضغط هنا

Optical Absorption Spectra and Excitons of Dye-Substrate Interfaces: Catechol on TiO$_2$(110)

62   0   0.0 ( 0 )
 نشر من قبل Duncan Mowbray
 تاريخ النشر 2016
  مجال البحث فيزياء
والبحث باللغة English




اسأل ChatGPT حول البحث

Optimizing the photovoltaic efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) based on staggered gap heterojunctions requires a detailed understanding of sub-band gap transitions in the visible from the dye directly to the substrates conduction band (CB) (type-II DSSCs). Here, we calculate the optical absorption spectra and spatial distribution of bright excitons in the visible region for a prototypical DSSC, catechol on rutile TiO$_2$(110), as a function of coverage and deprotonation of the OH anchoring groups. This is accomplished by solving the Bethe-Salpeter equation (BSE) based on hybrid range-separated exchange and correlation functional (HSE06) density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Such a treatment is necessary to accurately describe the interfacial level alignment and the weakly bound charge transfer transitions that are the dominant absorption mechanism in type-II DSSCs. Our HSE06 BSE spectra agree semi-quantitatively with spectra measured for catechol on anatase TiO$_2$ nanoparticles. Our results suggest deprotonation of catechols OH anchoring groups, while being nearly isoenergetic at high coverages, shifts the onset of the absorption spectra to lower energies, with a concomitant increase in photovoltaic efficiency. Further, the most relevant bright excitons in the visible region are rather intense charge transfer transitions with the electron and hole spatially separated in both the [110] and [001] directions. Such detailed information on the absorption spectra and excitons is only accessible via periodic models of the combined dye-substrate interface.

قيم البحث

اقرأ أيضاً

Due to their characteristic geometry, TiO$_2$ nanotubes (TNTs), suitably doped by metal-substitution to enhance their photocatalytic properties, have a high potential for applications such as clean fuel production. In this context, we present a detai led investigation of the magnetic, electronic, and optical properties of transition-metal doped TNTs, based on hybrid density functional theory. In particular, we focus on the $3d$, the $4d$, as well as selected $5d$ transition-metal doped TNTs. Thereby, we are able to explain the enhanced optical activity and photocatalytic sensitivity observed in various experiments. We find, for example, that Cr- and W-doped TNTs can be employed for applications like water splitting and carbon dioxide reduction, and for spintronic devices. The best candidate for water splitting is Fe-doped TNT, in agreement with experimental observations. In addition, our findings provide valuable hints for future experimental studies of the ferromagnetic/spintronic behavior of metal-doped titania nanotubes.
Substrate engineering provides an opportunity to modulate the physical properties of quantum materials in thin film form. Here we report that TiSe$_2$ thin films grown on TiO$_2$ have unexpectedly large electron doping that suppresses the charge dens ity wave (CDW) order. This is dramatically different from either bulk single crystal TiSe$_2$ or TiSe$_2$ thin films on graphene. The epitaxial TiSe$_2$ thin films can be prepared on TiO$_2$ via molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) in two ways: by conventional co-deposition using selenium and titanium sources, and by evaporating only selenium on reconstructed TiO$_2$ surfaces. Both growth methods yield atomically flat thin films with similar physical properties. The electron doping and subsequent suppression of CDW order can be explained by selenium vacancies in the TiSe$_2$ film, which naturally occur when TiO$_2$ substrates are used. This is due to the stronger interfacial bonding that changes the ideal growth conditions. Our finding provides a way to tune the chemical potential of chalcogenide thin films via substrate selection and engineering.
A first principles approach is presented for calculations of optical -- ultraviolet (UV) spectra including excitonic effects. The approach is based on Bethe-Salpeter equation calculations using the textsc{NBSE} code combined with ground-state density -functional theory calculations from the electronic structure code textsc{ABINIT}. Test calculations for bulk Si are presented, and the approach is illustrated with calculations of the optical spectra and birefringence of $alpha$-phase SiO$_2$ and the rutile and anatase phases of TiO$_2$. An interpretation of the strong birefringence in TiO$_2$ is presented.
We propose the design of low strained and energetically favourable mono and bilayer graphene overlayer on anatase TiO$_2$ (001) surface and examined the electronic structure of the interface with the aid of first principle calculations. In the absenc e of hybridization between surface TiO$_2$ and graphene states, dipolar fluctuations govern the minor charge transfer across the interface. As a result, both the substrate and the overlayer retain their pristine electronic structure. The interface with the monolayer graphene retains its gapless linear band dispersion irrespective of the induced epitaxial strain. The potential gradient opens up a few meV bandgap in the case of Bernal stacking and strengthens the interpenetration of the Dirac cones in the case of hexagonal stacking of the bilayer graphene. The difference between the macroscopic average potential of the TiO$_2$ and graphene layer(s) in the heterostructure lies in the range 3 to 3.13 eV, which is very close to the TiO$_2$ bandgap ($sim$ 3.2 eV). Therefore, the proposed heterostructure will exhibit enhanced photo-induced charge transfer and the graphene component will serve as a visible light sensitizer.
Adsorption of organic molecules on well-oriented single crystal coinage metal surfaces fundamentally affects the energy distribution curve of ultra-violet photoelectron spectroscopy spectra. New features not present in the spectrum of the pristine me tal can be assigned as interface states having some degree of molecule-substrate hybridization. Here it is shown that interface states having molecular orbital character can easily be identified at low binding energy as isolated features above the featureless substrate sp-plateau. On the other hand much care must be taken in assigning adsorbate-induced features when these lie within the d-band spectral region of the substrate. In fact, features often interpreted as characteristic of the molecule-substrate interaction may actually arise from substrate photoelectrons scattered by the adsorbates. This phenomenon is illustrated through a series of examples of noble-metal single-crystal surfaces covered by monolayers of large pi-conjugated organic molecules.
التعليقات
جاري جلب التعليقات جاري جلب التعليقات
سجل دخول لتتمكن من متابعة معايير البحث التي قمت باختيارها
mircosoft-partner

هل ترغب بارسال اشعارات عن اخر التحديثات في شمرا-اكاديميا