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Plasmonic Heterostructure TiO 2 ‐MCs/WO 3− x ‐NWs with Continuous Photoelectron Injection Boosting Hot Electron for Methane Generation
Author(s) -
Lou Zaizhu,
Zhang Peng,
Li Juan,
Yang Xianguang,
Huang Baibiao,
Li Baojun
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201808696
Subject(s) - materials science , photocatalysis , heterojunction , surface plasmon resonance , x ray photoelectron spectroscopy , plasmon , nanowire , nanotechnology , photochemistry , optoelectronics , nanoparticle , catalysis , chemical engineering , chemistry , biochemistry , engineering
Nonmetallic plasmonic heterostructure TiO 2 ‐mesocrystals/WO 3− x ‐nanowires (TiO 2 ‐MCs/WO 3− x ‐NWs) are constructed by coupling mesoporous crystal TiO 2 and plasmonic WO 3− x through a solvothermal procedure. The continuous photoelectron injection from TiO 2 stabilizes the free carrier density and leads to strong surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of WO 3− x , resulting in strong light absorption in the visible and near‐infrared region. Photocatalytic hydrogen generation of TiO 2 ‐MCs/WO 3− x ‐NWs is attributed to plasmonic hot electrons excited on WO 3− x ‐NWs under visible light irradiation. However, utilization of injected photoelectrons on WO 3− x ‐NWs has low efficiency for hydrogen generation and a co‐catalyst (Pt) is necessary. TiO 2 ‐MCs/WO 3− x ‐NWs are used as co‐catalyst free plasmonic photocatalysts for CO 2 reduction, which exhibit much higher activity (16.3 µmol g −1 h −1 ) and selectivity (83%) than TiO 2 ‐MCs (3.5 µmol g −1 h −1 , 42%) and WO 3− x ‐NWs (8.0 µmol g −1 h −1 , 64%) for methane generation under UV–vis light irradiation. A photoluminescence study demonstrates the photoelectron injection from TiO 2 to WO 3− x , and the nonmetallic SPR of WO 3− x plays a great role in the highly selective methane generation during CO 2 photoreduction.