A simple two pulse phase modulation (TPPM) scheme greatly reduces the residual linewidths arising from insufficient proton decoupling power in double resonance magic angle spinning (MAS) experiments. Optimization of pulse lengths and phases in the sequence produces substantial improvements in both the resolution and sensitivity of dilute spins (e.g., ¹³C) over a broad range of spinning speeds at high magnetic field. The theoretical complications introduced by large homo‐ and heteronuclear interactions among the spins, as well as the amplitude modulation imposed by MAS, are explored analytically and numerically. To our knowledge, this method is the first phase‐switched sequence to exhibit improvement over continuous‐wave (cw) decoupling in a strongly coupled homogeneous spin system undergoing sample spinning.

Exfoliated transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) such as WS₂ and MoS₂ have shown exciting potential for energy storage, catalysis and optoelectronics. So far, solution based methods for scalable production of few-layer TMDs usually involve the use of organic solvents or dangerous chemicals. Here, we report an eco-friendly method for facile synthesis of few-layer WS₂ and MoS₂ nanosheets using dilute aqueous solution of household detergent. Short time sonication of varying amount of bulk samples in soapy water was used to scale up the production of nanosheets. Thermal stability, optical absorption and Raman spectra of as-synthesized WS₂ and MoS₂ nanosheets are in close agreement with those from other synthesis techniques. Efficient photocatalytic activity of TMDs nanosheets was demonstrated by decomposing Brilliant Green dye in aqueous solution under visible light irradiation. Our study shows the great potential of TMDs nanosheets for environmental remediation by degrading toxic industrial chemicals in wastewater using sunlight.

A sixfold decrease in photoluminescence signal intensity at $590\mathrm{nm}$ with increase in deposition time from $3\text{to}12\mathrm{h}$ has been observed in single crystalline indium oxide octahedron structures grown by vapor-phase evaporation method. Electron paramagnetic resonance and energy dispersive x-ray analysis confirm that the concentration of oxygen vacancies increases with deposition time. These results are contrary to the previous reports where oxygen vacancies were shown to be responsible for photoluminescence in indium oxide structures. Our results indicate that indium interstitials and their associated complex defects other than oxygen vacancies are responsible for the photoluminescence in ${\mathrm{In}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_3$ microstructures.