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The characterization of Schottky type ultraviolet (UV) detectors with transparent electrode between vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) and visible light region using synchrotron radiation is described. The responsivity spectrum of the detectors at 0 V bias was obtained in the wide range between 2 eV (563 nm) and 25 eV (50 nm). The photoemission current from Au electrode was able to be canceled by improving the measuring circuit, and thus we succeeded in operating the detectors without any photoemission current from Au and GaN. The responsivity of the detectors is about 0.15 A/W at 3.5 eV. These results show that these Schottky type detectors with the transparent electrode are effective to detect VUV-UV light (50-360 nm, 3.4-25 eV) without any photoemission.

Characterization of GaN-based Schottky barrier ultraviolet (UV) detectors with a comb-shaped electrode using synchrotron radiation (hν=2.2–30 eV, λ=41–563 nm) is described. Below hν=8.0 eV (λ>155 nm), the detectors are available without any photoemission of GaN and Au electrode. Under application of reverse bias, the responsivity is increased to 0.05 A/W at -0.4 V. The photocurrent is controlled by reverse bias. On the other hand, above hν=8.0 eV (λ<155 nm), the responsivity spectra are dominated by photoemissions of Au and GaN. These results show that these Schottky type detectors with mesa structures are effective to detect vacuum ultraviolet (VUV)-UV light (155<λ<360 nm).

The doubly beneficial contribution of a nanoscale fabricated carbon surface and devised strong Pt-carbon interface to remarkable improvements of Pt/carbon fuel cell electrodes was evidenced to be a crucial clue for rational design of next-generation less-Pt/C electrodes. Real-world carbon surface morphology and metal-carbon interfaces are complex and interrelated and hard to control at a statistical level. Herein, we fabricated plasma-devised nanoneedles-glassy carbon (GC) from well-defined flat GC as model supports, on which Pt nanoparticles were anchored by arc plasma. The arc plasma deposited (APD)-Pt/flat-GC with a strong metal-support interface exhibited enhanced activity for the electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) compared to chemically supported Pt/flat-GC and commercial Pt/C electrodes. The APD-Pt/nanoneedles-GC further promoted the ORR and showed a remarkable durability without significant deactivation after accelerated durability test cycles. The structural defects and compressive strain of Pt nanoparticles were induced by the plasma-devised metal-support contact, which may benefit the ORR activity of APD-Pt/nanoneedles-GC. The nanoneedles-GC support morphology may also improve oxygen gas transport at the nanoscale through modifying the hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity of the GC surface. These results on the devised Pt/C model electrodes reveal the highly enhanced activity and durability of the APD-Pt/nanoneedles-GC electrode by the doubly beneficial effects of a support nanoscale morphology and strong metal-support interface, which were characterized by the intimate combination of Pt/GC synthesis, electrochemical measurements, in situ XAFS, and HAADF-STEM. Our experimental findings provide necessary clues for the design and synthesis of active and durable fuel cell electrodes, metal-air batteries, and catalytic materials.

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