In recent years, the degradation of organic dyes under dark conditions, at room temperature and atmosphere pressure, without additional lights or chemical stimulants, has been widely investigated. Here, a nanocomposite of ZnO‐CoMoO4 was synthesized using an organic template and investigated as a catalyst to degrade methyl orange in aqueous environment under dark, ambient conditions. The organic compounds of Abies Pindrow Royle were reacted with a precursor solution following sol–gel synthesis methodology to modify the chemistry and morphology of ZnO‐CoMoO4, so formed. The structure of the nanocomposite was confirmed by X‐ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy while nanostructures were examined by field emission scanning electron microscopy. Organic functional groups were determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The organic compound incorporated nanocomposite was revealed to be an excellent catalyst with 95% degradation of methyl orange in aqueous environment under dark ambient conditions within 10 min. The catalyst also revealed 99% degradation of azo dye in the presence of solar light. Furthermore, the catalysts illustrated good stability with pseudo first order kinetics (R2 < 1) in the light as well as in the dark conditions with outstanding reusability till four cycles of experiments. Therefore, nanostructure and organic species of Abies Pindrow Royle were found to enhance the catalytic behavior of ZnO‐CoMoO4 towards methyl orange degradation even in dark conditions.

Ambient-air-stable methylammonium lead iodide (MAPI) perovskite thin films have been fabricated via one-step aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD) from a pseudohalide Pb(SCN) 2 precursor. We compare both the bulk and surface properties of the perovskite films grown using AACVD with those made by the widely used spin-coating method. Films with larger grain sizes and much better stability in ambient air can be obtained by AACVD. By addition of excess MAI to the precursor solution, MAPI films with negligible PbI 2 impurities, as determined by X-ray diffraction, are obtained. The AACVD-grown MAPI films retain high phase purity with limited PbI 2 formation after aging in air for approximately one month. The films exhibit an optical bandgap energy of ca. 1.55 eV and the expected nominal bulk stoichiometry (within error). In addition to probing bulk properties, we utilize X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to scrutinize the surface characteristics in detail. We find that the use of excess MAI results in formation of neutral CH 3 NH 2 molecules at the surface. With aging time in air, the concentrations of iodine and nitrogen drop with respect to that of lead, but these changes are less severe in the AACVD-grown films compared to the counterparts made by spin-coating. Near-ambient pressure XPS is utilized to examine the surface stability of AACVD-grown films on exposure to 9 mbar H 2 O vapor. The formation of CH 3 NH 2 molecules at the surface is observed, and the MAPI phase remains largely intact. The CH 3 NH 2 molecules may passivate the surfaces and protect MAPI from degradation, providing a rationale for the observed stability of MAPI films fabricated from Pb(SCN) 2 with excess MAI.

In situ photoemission and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) techniques have been used to study the interaction of CO 2 with an ionic liquid thin film. A thin film of the superbasic ionic liquid (SBIL) trihexyltetradecylphosphonium benzimidazolide ([P 66614 ][benzim]) was prepared on a rutile TiO 2 (110) surface and exposed to CO 2 at near-ambient pressures. NEXAFS measurements combined with density functional theory calculations indicate a realignment of [benzim] − anions from 27°from the surface normal to 54°upon exposure to CO 2 . Angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AR-XPS) shows evidence of irreversible CO 2 absorption in thin films of [P 66614 ][benzim] and a greater concentration of CO 2 -reacted anions in the deeper layers. These results give a new perspective on CO 2 uptake in ionic liquids and fundamental interactions at the liquid−gas interface. Understanding this interfacial behavior is important for developing ILs for gas capture applications and may influence the performance of other IL-based technologies.

The adsorption of 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA) on anatase (101) and rutile (110) TiO2 surfaces has been studied using synchrotron radiation photoelectron spectroscopy and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy techniques. Photoelectron spectroscopy results suggest that the 4-MBA molecule bonds to both TiO2 surfaces through the carboxyl group, following deprotonation in a bidentate geometry. Carbon K-edge NEXAFS spectra show that the phenyl ring of the 4-MBA molecule is oriented at 70° ± 5° from the surface on both the rutile (110) and anatase (101) surfaces, although there are subtle differences in the electronic structure of the molecule following adsorption between the two surfaces.