Continuous Tuning of Au–Cu2O Janus Nanostructures for Efficient Charge Separation. Issue 49 (29th September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xu, Wenjia; Jia, Jia; Wang, Ti; Li, Chao; He, Bowen; Zong, Jianpeng; Wang, Yawen; Fan, Hong Jin; Xu, Hongxing; Feng, Yuhua; Chen, Hongyu
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie international edition. Volume 59:Issue 49(2020)
• Page Start: 22246
• Page End: 22251
• Publication Date: 2020-09-29
• Subjects: Au–Cu2O hybrid structures -- charge separation -- interfacial energy -- Janus structures -- Schottky barrier; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.202010613
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1433-7851

Abstract

Abstract: In photocatalysis, the Schottky barrier in metal–semiconductor hybrids is known to promote charge separation, but a core–shell structure always leads to a charge build‐up and eventually shuts off the photocurrent. Here, we show that Au–Cu2 O hybrid nanostructures can be continuously tuned, particularly when the Cu2 O domains are single‐crystalline. This is in contrast to the conventional systems, where the hybrid configuration is mainly determined by the choice of materials. The distal separation of the Au–Cu2 O domains in Janus nanostructures leads to enhanced charge separation and a large improvement of the photocurrent. The activity of the Au–Cu2 O Janus structures is 5 times higher than that of the core–shell structure, and 10 times higher than that of the neat Cu2 O nanocubes. The continuous structural tuning allows to study the structure–property relationship and an optimization of the photocatalytic performance. Abstract : The distal arrangement of Au–Cu2 O domains in the Janus structure promotes charge separation, leading to a five‐ and tenfold enhancement of the photocurrent of the Au@Cu2 O core–shell structure and the neat Cu2 O nanocubes, respectively.