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TiO 2 /Cu 2 O Core/Ultrathin Shell Nanorods as Efficient and Stable Photocatalysts for Water Reduction
Author(s) -
Liu Yuanxu,
Zhang Bingsen,
Luo Liangfeng,
Chen Xuanye,
Wang Zhonglei,
Wu Erlong,
Su Dangsheng,
Huang Weixin
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201509115
Subject(s) - photocatalysis , nanorod , materials science , calcination , redox , chemical engineering , valence (chemistry) , band gap , nanotechnology , catalysis , chemistry , optoelectronics , biochemistry , organic chemistry , engineering , metallurgy
P‐type Cu 2 O has been long considered as an attractive photocatalyst for photocatalytic water reduction, but few successful examples has been reported. Here, we report the synthesis of TiO 2 (core)/Cu 2 O (ultrathin film shell) nanorods by a redox reaction between Cu 2+ and in‐situ generated Ti 3+ when Cu 2+ ‐exchanged H‐titanate nanotubes are calcined in air. Owing to the strong TiO 2 ‐Cu 2 O interfacial interaction, TiO 2 (core)/Cu 2 O (ultrathin film shell) nanorods are highly active and stable in photocatalytic water reduction. The TiO 2 core and Cu 2 O ultrathin film shell respectively act as the photosensitizer and cocatalyst, and both the photoexcited electrons in the conduction band and the holes in the valence band of TiO 2 respectively transfer to the conduction band and valence band of the Cu 2 O ultrathin film shell. Our results unambiguously show that Cu 2 O itself can act as the highly active and stable cocatalyst for photocatalytic water reduction.