Davide Barreca

Bio: Davide Barreca is an academic researcher from University of Padua. The author has contributed to research in topics: Chemical vapor deposition & X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The author has an hindex of 46, co-authored 256 publications receiving 8413 citations. Previous affiliations of Davide Barreca include Brescia University & Ruhr University Bochum.

Composition and Microstructure of Cobalt Oxide Thin Films Obtained from a Novel Cobalt(II) Precursor by Chemical Vapor Deposition

Abstract: The present work reports the synthesis and the characterization of cobalt oxide thin films obtained by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on indium tin oxide (ITO) substrates, using a cobalt(II) β-diketonate as precursor. The complex is characterized by electron impact mass spectrometry (EI-MS) and thermal analysis in order to investigate its decomposition pattern. The depositions are carried out in a cold wall reactor in the temperature range 350−500 °C at different oxygen pressures, to tailor film composition from CoO to Co3O4. The crystalline nanostructure is evidenced by X-ray diffraction (XRD), while the surface and in-depth chemical composition is studied by X-ray photoelectron (XPS) and X-ray excited auger electron spectroscopy (XE-AES). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is employed to analyze the surface morphology of the films and its dependence on the synthesis conditions. Relevant results concerning the control of composition and microstructure of Co−O thin films are presented and discussed.

Electron transport through single Mn12 molecular magnets.

Abstract: We report transport measurements through a single-molecule magnet, the Mn12 derivative [Mn12O12(O2C-C6H4-SAc)16(H2O)4], in a single-molecule transistor geometry. Thiol groups connect the molecule to gold electrodes that are fabricated by electromigration. Striking observations are regions of complete current suppression and excitations of negative differential conductance on the energy scale of the anisotropy barrier of the molecule. Transport calculations, taking into account the high-spin ground state and magnetic excitations of the molecule, reveal a blocking mechanism of the current involving nondegenerate spin multiplets.

The Potential of Supported Cu2O and CuO Nanosystems in Photocatalytic H2 Production

Abstract: Hy wire: Supported Cu(2)O nanosystems and CuO nanowires obtained by chemical vapor deposition were used in the photocatalytic splitting of methanol/water solutions to produce hydrogen. The results obtained with these systems open appealing perspectives for the clean conversion of sunlight into storable chemical energy.

Photocatalytic and antibacterial activity of TiO2 and Au/TiO2 nanosystems

Abstract: This work focuses on the photocatalytic performances and antibacterial activity of TiO2 and Au/TiO2 nanosystems. While the former are obtained by a sol?gel route, the latter are synthesized by an innovative hybrid RF-sputtering/sol?gel approach, followed by ex situ annealing in air up to 600??C. Important information on nanoparticle size, shape and distribution is obtained by the combined use of glancing incidence x-ray diffraction (GIXRD) and field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Subsequently, the photocatalytic performances of the obtained nanosystems in the decomposition of the azo-dye Plasmocorinth B and their antibacterial activity in the elimination of Bacillus subtilis are illustrated and discussed in comparison with films obtained from standard Degussa P25 powders. The obtained results show a significant dependence of the functional performances on the system's compositional, structural and morphological properties. In particular, the dispersion of gold nanoparticles on the TiO2 matrix has a beneficial influence on the azo-dye photodegradation, whereas the antimicrobial activity of Au/TiO2 films is retarded with respect to pure TiO2.

TiO2 nanopowders doped with boron and nitrogen for photocatalytic applications

Abstract: TiO2-based systems have attracted an increasing interest for their potential use as photocatalysts under visible-light irradiation. In this context, the present work was dedicated to the tailored synthesis of TiO2 nanopowders doped with boron, nitrogen or both species for the photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes. In particular, the systems were synthesized by a sol–gel route starting from titanium(IV) butoxide as a Ti source and thoroughly characterized by the combined use of N2 physisorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV–Vis reflectance spectroscopy and temperature-programmed oxidation (TPO). Finally, the photocatalytic performances in the decomposition of the azo-dye methyl orange (MO) were investigated. The obtained results suggest that both dopants promote the photocatalytic activity with respect to pure TiO2 systems. Nevertheless, while our surface N-doping does not appreciably modify the titania structure and texture, B incorporation inhibits the TiO2 crystallite growth and induces an increase in the surface area. As regards the codoped systems, a remarkable reactivity improvement was observed only when B is present in excess with respect to N. A rational interpretation of the observed behaviour was attempted by calculations based on the density functional theory (DFT). We suggest that the presence of B in molar excess with respect to N generates reactive Ti(III) sites, which, in turn, might induce the formation of reactive superoxide species.

I and i

Abstract: There is, I think, something ethereal about i —the square root of minus one. I remember first hearing about it at school. It seemed an odd beast at that time—an intruder hovering on the edge of reality. Usually familiarity dulls this sense of the bizarre, but in the case of i it was the reverse: over the years the sense of its surreal nature intensified. It seemed that it was impossible to write mathematics that described the real world in …

Graphitic Carbon Nitride (g-C3N4)-Based Photocatalysts for Artificial Photosynthesis and Environmental Remediation: Are We a Step Closer To Achieving Sustainability?

Abstract: As a fascinating conjugated polymer, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has become a new research hotspot and drawn broad interdisciplinary attention as a metal-free and visible-light-responsive photocatalyst in the arena of solar energy conversion and environmental remediation. This is due to its appealing electronic band structure, high physicochemical stability, and “earth-abundant” nature. This critical review summarizes a panorama of the latest progress related to the design and construction of pristine g-C3N4 and g-C3N4-based nanocomposites, including (1) nanoarchitecture design of bare g-C3N4, such as hard and soft templating approaches, supramolecular preorganization assembly, exfoliation, and template-free synthesis routes, (2) functionalization of g-C3N4 at an atomic level (elemental doping) and molecular level (copolymerization), and (3) modification of g-C3N4 with well-matched energy levels of another semiconductor or a metal as a cocatalyst to form heterojunction nanostructures. The constructi...

Understanding TiO2 photocatalysis: mechanisms and materials.

Abstract: Jenny Schneider,*,† Masaya Matsuoka,‡ Masato Takeuchi,‡ Jinlong Zhang, Yu Horiuchi,‡ Masakazu Anpo,‡ and Detlef W. Bahnemann*,† †Institut fur Technische Chemie, Leibniz Universitaẗ Hannover, Callinstrasse 3, D-30167 Hannover, Germany ‡Faculty of Engineering, Osaka Prefecture University, 1 Gakuen-cho, Sakai Osaka 599-8531, Japan Key Lab for Advanced Materials and Institute of Fine Chemicals, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China

Molecular spintronics using single-molecule magnets

Abstract: A revolution in electronics is in view, with the contemporary evolution of the two novel disciplines of spintronics and molecular electronics. A fundamental link between these two fields can be established using molecular magnetic materials and, in particular, single-molecule magnets. Here, we review the first progress in the resulting field, molecular spintronics, which will enable the manipulation of spin and charges in electronic devices containing one or more molecules. We discuss the advantages over more conventional materials, and the potential applications in information storage and processing. We also outline current challenges in the field, and propose convenient schemes to overcome them.