A structural analysis of the reduction−oxidation process of copper loaded on Cu/Nb 2 O 5 has been performed using Cu K-edge XAFS spectroscopy to reveal the correlation between the oxidation state of copper and the catalytic activity of alcohol photooxidation. On the basis of the simulation of the XANES spectra of Cu/Nb 2 O 5 , the superposition of Cu metal (Cu(0)), Cu 2 O (Cu(I)), and CuO (Cu(II)) is observed, and, furthermore, the concentration of these three phases was evaluated. XANES and EXAFS analyses revealed the following reduction−oxidation process. Cu metal particles with a diameter of approximately 4 nm were formed after reductions at 673 K. Cu 2 O and CuO phases were formed in the surface layers at low oxidation temperature. The process of formation was followed by phase growth both in the surface layers and in the bulk Cu particle with increasing oxidation temperature. The change in photocatalytic activity well correlated with the fraction of Cu 2 O (Cu(I)).

We have developed a novel bright reflective color display, which combines the polymer network liquid crystal (PNLC) containing dichroic fluorescent dyes and the ultra-low-power driving technology. The high reflectance, 60% at the maximum, was achieved by enhancement of the external light emission from the dyes due to the light-scattering effect of PNLC.