A simple, one-step method for producing a homogenous CeO.sub.2—TiO.sub.2 composite thin film using aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition (“CVD”) of a solution containing triacetatocerium (III) and tetra isopropoxytitanium (IV) on a fluorine-doped tin oxide (“FTO”) substrate at a temperature ranging from about 500 to about 650° C. Methods for using the film produced by this method.

Supported chromium catalysts with an average valence less than +6 and having a hydrocarbon-containing or halogenated hydrocarbon-containing ligand attached to at least one bonding site on the chromium are disclosed, as well as ethylene-based polymers with terminal alkane, aromatic, or halogenated hydrocarbon chain ends. Another ethylene polymer characterized by at least 2 wt. % of the polymer having a molecular weight greater than 1,000,000 g/mol and at least 1.5 wt. % of the polymer having a molecular weight less than 1000 g/mol is provided, as well as an ethylene homopolymer with at least 3.5 methyl short chain branches and less than 0.6 butyl short chain branches per 1000 total carbon atoms.

Included herein are methods for photodriven hydrogenation of N.sub.2, the methods comprising, for example: hydrogenating N.sub.2 to NH.sub.3 in the presence of a light, an organic transfer agent, and a first metal-containing catalyst; wherein: the transfer agent and the first catalyst are in a solution; the transfer agent comprises n chemically transferable electrons and protons, n being an integer equal to or greater than 1; the step of hydrogenating comprises at least one charge-transfer reaction via which the transfer agent donates at least one electron and at least one proton to one or more other chemical species; the step of hydrogenating comprises at least one photochemical reaction; and the light is characterized by energy sufficient to drive the at least one photochemical reaction. Also disclosed herein are methods comprising regenerating a spent-transfer agent back into the transfer agent.

A simple, one-step method for producing a homogenous CeO.sub.2—TiO.sub.2 composite thin film using aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition (“CVD”) of a solution containing triacetatocerium (III) and tetra isopropoxytitanium (IV) on a fluorine-doped tin oxide (“FTO”) substrate at a temperature ranging from about 500 to about 650° C. Methods for using the film produced by this method.

The inventive concepts disclosed relate to the production of green and blue hydrogen from hydrocarbons using visible light (from a laser, lamp or sun) and defect-engineered boron-rich photocatalysts. We demonstrate that the environment of the B atoms in the lattice can be tuned to favor the dehydrogenation of desired hydrocarbons on reaction sites under visible light. In addition to the hydrogen produced in gas form, carbon atoms are captured by the catalyst and form structures of potential higher value for future applications. Further study of the dark carbonaceous product revealed a graphitic aspect of the material. These findings highlight a new functionality of 2D materials for visible light-assisted capture and conversion of hydrocarbons, with great potential for green hydrogen production ― i.e, hydrogen produced from renewable energy and without the release of CO or CO.sub.2.

A method for the infrared-light-induced yield optimization of chemical reactions is provided. An energy input into at least one starting material that is subjected to a chemical reaction takes place by means of infrared light pulses having a mean wavelength in the range of 2000 to 100000 nm. The chemical reaction here is a reaction in which a product, the molecular formula of which does not correspond to the molecular formula of the starting material, is formed and wherein the yield optimization for the most part is not based on a thermal heating of the starting material. The infrared light pulses have a fixed wavelength and the energy input into the starting material takes place by means of vibration excitation by a one-photon process.

A variety of particles forming microencapsulated thermochromic materials. The particles can include a thermochromic core and a metal oxide shell encapsulating the thermochromic core. The thermochromic core can include one or both of an organic thermochromic material and an inorganic salt thermochromic material. In some aspects, the particles include a dye selected from a crystal violet lactone dye, a fluoran dye, and a combination thereof. In still further aspects, the particles include a color developer selected from a hydroxybenzoate, a 4,4′-dihydroxydiphenyl propane, a hydroxycoumarin derivative, a lauryl gallate, and a combination thereof. In some aspects, the metal oxide shell is a TiO.sub.2 shell. The particles can be used in cements and paints and for a variety of building materials. Methods of making the particles and building materials and methods of use, for example, for removing a volatile organic carbon from a building material, are also provided.

Disclosed is a nanocatalyst-type nanoscale composition including a nanoparticle semiconductor, plasmonic metal nanoparticles and an organic photosensitiser of the carbo-mer type. Also disclosed is a method for producing such a nano-catalyst. Also disclosed is use of the nanocatalyst for photoelectrolysis, in particular, for the photoelectrolysis of water, as well as to a power source including the nanocatalyst.

Supported chromium catalysts with an average valence less than +6 and having a hydrocarbon-containing or halogenated hydrocarbon-containing ligand attached to at least one bonding site on the chromium are disclosed, as well as ethylene-based polymers with terminal alkane, aromatic, or halogenated hydrocarbon chain ends. Another ethylene polymer characterized by at least 2 wt. % of the polymer having a molecular weight greater than 1,000,000 g/mol and at least 1.5 wt. % of the polymer having a molecular weight less than 1000 g/mol is provided, as well as an ethylene homopolymer with at least 3.5 methyl short chain branches and less than 0.6 butyl short chain branches per 1000 total carbon atoms.

A polymerization apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a light irradiator; and a polymerization vessel. The light irradiator includes a first casing and a light source assembly. The first casing includes a light source chamber defined by cylindrical side walls, a ceiling, and a floor including a light-transmissive window member. The light source assembly includes a base having a light-emitting surface on which a plurality of light-emitting diodes is disposed in a predetermined pattern and a heat-dissipating surface to which a heat sink is joined, and the light source assembly is disposed within the light source chamber so that the light-emitting surface faces the light-transmissive window member. The polymerization vessel includes a polymerization cup and a second casing. The polymerization cup has a frustoconical or substantially frustoconical shape that opens upward and increases in diameter upward, and is capable of housing an object therein. The second casing is a bottomed cylindrical or box-shaped casing having an opening at the apex thereof, the polymerization cup being attachably/detachably housed in the second casing via the opening. In this polymerization apparatus, light that has been emitted by the plurality of light-emitting diodes of the light irradiator and has passed through the light-transmissive window member is applied to the inside of the polymerization cup of the polymerization vessel.