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Morphology‐Controlled Self‐Assembly and Nanostructured NiO: An Efficient and Robust Photocatalytic Water‐Oxidation Catalyst
Author(s) -
Du Xiaoqiang,
Ding Yong,
Li Chengqiang
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
chemcatchem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.497
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1867-3899
pISSN - 1867-3880
DOI - 10.1002/cctc.201500308
Subject(s) - x ray photoelectron spectroscopy , photocatalysis , non blocking i/o , nanorod , materials science , catalysis , cyclic voltammetry , raman spectroscopy , nickel , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , mesoporous material , nickel oxide , chemical engineering , nuclear chemistry , inorganic chemistry , electrochemistry , nanotechnology , chemistry , organic chemistry , metallurgy , physics , electrode , optics , engineering
Three α‐NiO nanocompounds of different morphology, with nanorods, nanowires, and nanoplates, were synthesized by controlling the ratio of reactants and temperature. The shape and structure of the nanocompounds were confirmed by SEM, XRD, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, BET, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. These compounds were examined as catalysts in photocatalytic water oxidation with [Ru(2,2′‐bipyridine) 3 ] 2+ and S 2 O 8 2− as a photosensitizer and a sacrificial oxidant, respectively. All of the samples exhibit high turnover frequencies and perfect stability in slightly alkaline conditions. A characteristic peak at around E =0.95 V versus Ag/AgCl assigned to a Ni 3+ species was detected by cyclic voltammetry, which suggests that a high‐valent nickel species may be responsible for water oxidation. The surface properties of the α‐NiO nanorods also remain unchanged after examination by XPS before and after the photocatalytic reaction.