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Noninvasively Modifying Band Structures of Wide‐Bandgap Metal Oxides to Boost Photocatalytic Activity
Author(s) -
Yu Zongbao,
Chen XingQiu,
Kang Xiangdong,
Xie Yingpeng,
Zhu Huaze,
Wang Shoulong,
Ullah Sami,
Ma Hui,
Wang Lianzhou,
Liu Gang,
Ma Xiuliang,
Cheng HuiMing
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.201706259
Subject(s) - materials science , photocatalysis , band gap , visible spectrum , heteroatom , doping , absorption (acoustics) , oxide , amorphous solid , metal , optoelectronics , charge carrier , nanotechnology , semiconductor , photochemistry , catalysis , metallurgy , composite material , chemistry , organic chemistry , ring (chemistry)
Although doping with appropriate heteroatoms is a powerful way of increasing visible light absorption of wide‐bandgap metal oxide photocatalysts, the incorporation of heteroatoms into the photocatalysts usually leads to the increase of deleterious recombination centers of photogenerated charge carriers. Here, a conceptual strategy of increasing visible light absorption without causing additional recombination centers by constructing an ultrathin insulating heterolayer of amorphous boron oxynitride on wide‐bandgap photocatalysts is shown. The nature of this strategy is that the active composition nitrogen in the heterolayer can noninvasively modify the electronic structure of metal oxides for visible light absorption through the interface contact between the heterolayer and metal oxides. The photocatalysts developed show significant improvements in photocatalytic activity under both UV–vis and visible light irradiation compared to the doped counterparts by conventional doping process. These results may provide opportunities for flexibly tailoring the electronic structure of metal oxides.