Rational design of photoelectron-trapped/accumulated site and transportation path for superior photocatalyst. (August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Jianlin; Zhang, Cuiling; Ma, Biao; Yang, Tiao; Gu, Xiao; Wang, Xue; Zhang, Junsheng; Hu, Chenguo
• Is Part Of: Nano energy. Volume 38(2017:Aug.)
• Page Start: 271
• Page End: 280
• Publication Date: 2017-08
• Subjects: Silver -- SrSO4 -- TiO2 -- Heterojunction -- Photocatalyst; Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanostructured materials -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; Nanoscience; Nanostructured materials; Nanotechnology; Power resources -- Technological innovations; Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2017.05.052
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2211-2855

Abstract

Abstract: Although photocatalysts are enormously explored for solar energy utilization, it remains a challenge to construct a highly efficient photocatalytic system by successfully steering the charge separation, transportation and consumption. Here we designed a novel photocatalyst by rationally constructing the photoelectron-trapped/accumulated site and electron transportation path via assembling TiO2, Ag and SrSO4 nanoparticle together, where TiO2 nanoparticles work as a solar energy harvester to generate electron-hole pairs, Ag nanoparticles conduct as electrons trapped and accumulated sites, and SrSO4 nanoparticles are used to build coherent electron transportation paths and consumption sites. Our work provides a general bottom-up route for designing and preparing novel photocatalysts with ultrafast charge separation and highly catalytic activates. Graphical abstract: Highlights: A novel photocatalyst is designed in consideration of heterojunction band matching and surface plasmon resonance. TiO2 and Ag work as a light harvester and an electron transfer media, and SrSO4 is used as electron trapping site. A directed photoelectron flow path as E CB (TiO2 )→ E f (Ag)→ E CB (SrSO4 ) is obtained. The TiO2 /Ag/SrSO4 catalyst achieves highly efficient photocatalysis for degradation of MB or H2 evolution.