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Nano‐Ferroelectric for High Efficiency Overall Water Splitting under Ultrasonic Vibration
Author(s) -
Su Ran,
Hsain H. Alex,
Wu Ming,
Zhang Dawei,
Hu Xinghao,
Wang Zhipeng,
Wang Xiaojing,
Li Fatang,
Chen Xuemin,
Zhu Lina,
Yang Yong,
Yang Yaodong,
Lou Xiaojie,
Pennycook Stephen J.
Publication year - 2019
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.201907695
Subject(s) - piezoelectricity , materials science , water splitting , anisotropy , hydrogen production , polarization (electrochemistry) , ferroelectricity , piezoelectric coefficient , scanning transmission electron microscopy , scanning electron microscope , nano , nanotechnology , hydrogen , optoelectronics , photocatalysis , transmission electron microscopy , optics , composite material , catalysis , chemistry , biochemistry , physics , organic chemistry , dielectric
Piezocatalysis, converting mechanical vibration into chemical energy, has emerged as a promising candidate for water‐splitting technology. However, the efficiency of the hydrogen production is quite limited. We herein report well‐defined 10 nm BaTiO 3 nanoparticles (NPs) characterized by a large electro‐mechanical coefficient which induces a high piezoelectric effect. Atomic‐resolution high angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF‐STEM) and scanning probe microscopy (SPM) suggests that piezoelectric BaTiO 3 NPs display a coexistence of multiple phases with low energy barriers and polarization anisotropy which results in a high electro‐mechanical coefficient. Landau free energy modeling also confirms that the greatly reduced polarization anisotropy facilitates polarization rotation. Employing the high piezoelectric properties of BaTiO 3 NPs, we demonstrate an overall water‐splitting process with the highest hydrogen production efficiency hitherto reported, with a H 2 production rate of 655 μmol g −1 h −1 , which could rival excellent photocatalysis system. This study highlights the potential of piezoelectric catalysis for overall water splitting.