Core–Shell Silicon@Mesoporous TiO2 Heterostructure: Towards Solar‐Powered Photoelectrochemical Conversion. Issue 7 (24th May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pal, Manas; Wu, Hao; Jing, Yunke; Li, Xiaomin; Zhu, Hongwei; Wang, Changyao; Wang, Shuai; Al‐Enizi, Abdullah M.; Deng, Yonghui; Zheng, Gengfeng; Zhao, Dongyuan
• Is Part Of: ChemNanoMat. Volume 2:Issue 7(2016)
• Page Start: 647
• Page End: 651
• Publication Date: 2016-05-24
• Subjects: core–shell -- mesoporous materials -- photoelectrochemical conversion -- semiconducting nanostructures -- Stöber method; Nanochemistry -- Periodicals; Nanostructured materials -- Periodicals; Nanochemistry; Nanostructured materials; Periodicals; 541.2
• DOI: 10.1002/cnma.201600085
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2199-692X

Abstract

Abstract: Core–shell heterostructured nanomaterials with mesopores have enormous potential applications in diverse fields. Herein, we report a facile extended Stöber method to synthesize core–shell heterostructured semiconducting nanomaterials with mesoporosity. Silver (Ag) metal‐assisted chemically wet etched p‐type silicon nanowires (Si NWs) were used as the core, and layer‐controllable mesoporous n‐type anatase TiO2 was grown as the shell to successfully fabricate the core–shell p‐Si@mesoporous n‐TiO2 hybrid materials. Detailed characterization reveals that the TiO2 shell was composed of aggregated crystalline TiO2 nanoparticles with diameters of ≈15 nm, where the TiO2 coating thickness was tuned ≈50 nm. The interstitial pores of these nanoparticles were observed with average pore sizes of 4–8 nm. The core–shell structured p‐Si@mesoporous n‐TiO2 hybrid materials were demonstrated as photocathodes for the solar‐driven photoelectrochemical (PEC) production of H2 at the semiconductor/electrolyte interface. Abstract : Powered by the sun : A facile and low‐cost synthesis of core–shell p‐Si@mesoporous n‐TiO2 hybrid material was developed for solar‐driven photoelectrochemical (PEC) production of H2 .