The use of the coupling agent, 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), in the silanization reaction with silanol-terminated silicon is an important surface modification reaction. Of particular importance is that the terminal amine functionalities of APTES are sufficiently exposed to the gas or liquid phase for further modifications, such as amide coupling reactions. Here, metastable induced electron spectroscopy (MIES) and UV photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) were used to study the composition of the outermost layer of a silanol-terminated Si surface after silanization with APTES. High-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to validate the attachment of APTES to the surface. Density of States (DOS) calculations were employed for interpreting the MIE spectra. Findings showed that amine functionalities covered only a small fraction of the APTES-modified Si surface.

Synchrotron XPS was used to investigate a series of chemically-synthesised, atomically-precise gold clusters Au(n)(PPh(3))(y) (n = 8, 9, 11 and 101, with y depending on cluster size) immobilized on titania nanoparticles. The gold clusters were washed with toluene at 100 °C or calcined at 200 °C to remove the organic ligand. From the position of the Au 4f(7/2) peak it is concluded that cluster size is not altered through the deposition. From the analysis of the phosphorous spectra, it can be concluded that the applied heat treatment removes the organic ligands. Washing and calcination leads to partial oxidation and partial agglomeration of the clusters. Oxidation of the clusters is most likely due to the interaction of the cluster core with the oxygen of the titania surface after removal of ligands. The position of the Au 4f(7/2) peak indicates that the size of the agglomerated clusters is still smaller than that of Au(101).

A 3D catalyst electrode is fabricated by layer‐by‐layer assembly of 2D WS2 nano­layers and P, N, O‐doped graphene sheets into a heterostructured film. The film exhibits remarkable hydrogen evolution performance, benefitting from the utmost exposed active centers on 2D nanolayers, highly expanded surface, and continuous conductive network, as well as strong synergistic effects between the components.

A minimalist approach to integration yields tandem solar cells with high efficiency.

Crude oil and hydrocarbon fuel spills are a perennial threat to aquatic environments. Inexpensive and sustainable sorbents are needed to mitigate the ecological harm of this pollution. To address this need, this study features a low‐density polysulfide polymer that is prepared by the direct reaction of sulfur and used cooking oils. Because both sulfur and cooking oils are hydrophobic, the polymer has an affinity for hydrocarbons such as crude oil and diesel fuel and can rapidly remove them from seawater. Through simple mechanical compression, the oil can be recovered and the polymer can be reused in oil spill remediation. The polysulfide is unique because it is prepared entirely from repurposed waste: sulfur is a by‐product of the petroleum industry and used cooking oil can be used as a comonomer. In this way, sulfur waste from the oil industry is used to make an effective sorbent for combatting pollution from that same sector.