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Synergistic Cocatalytic Effect of Carbon Nanodots and Co 3 O 4 Nanoclusters for the Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation on Hematite
Author(s) -
Zhang Peng,
Wang Tuo,
Chang Xiaoxia,
Zhang Lei,
Gong Jinlong
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201600918
Subject(s) - nanoclusters , photocurrent , hematite , oxidizing agent , nanodot , reversible hydrogen electrode , water splitting , catalysis , materials science , carbon fibers , photochemistry , semiconductor , photoelectrochemistry , chemistry , inorganic chemistry , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , electrochemistry , electrode , photocatalysis , optoelectronics , mineralogy , working electrode , biochemistry , organic chemistry , composite material , composite number , engineering
Cocatalysis plays an important role in enhancing the activity of semiconductor photocatalysts for solar water splitting. Compared to a single cocatalyst configuration, a cocatalytic system consisting of multiple components with different functions may realize outstanding enhancement through their interactions, yet limited research has been reported. Herein we describe the synergistic cocatalytic effect between carbon nanodots (CDots) and Co 3 O 4 , which promotes the photoelectrochemical water oxidation activity of the Fe 2 O 3 photoanode with a 60 mV cathodically shifted onset potential. The C/Co 3 O 4 ‐Fe 2 O 3 photoanode exhibits a photocurrent density of 1.48 mA cm −2 at 1.23 V (vs. reversible hydrogen electrode), 78 % higher than that of the bare Fe 2 O 3 photoanode. The slow reaction process on the single Co III ‐OH site of the Co 3 O 4 cocatalyst, oxidizing H 2 O to H 2 O 2 with two photogenerated holes, could be accelerated by the timely H 2 O 2 oxidation to O 2 catalyzed on CDots.