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A Full Compositional Range for a (Ga 1‐ x Zn x )(N 1‐ x O x ) Nanostructure: High Efficiency for Overall Water Splitting and Optical Properties
Author(s) -
Li Yaguang,
Zhu Liping,
Yang Yefeng,
Song Hui,
Lou Zirui,
Guo Yanmin,
Ye Zhizhen
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.201401770
Subject(s) - nanostructure , materials science , band gap , valence (chemistry) , valence band , water splitting , photocatalysis , zinc , solid solution , nanoscopic scale , analytical chemistry (journal) , nanotechnology , catalysis , optoelectronics , chemistry , metallurgy , biochemistry , organic chemistry , chromatography
Bulk (Ga 1‐ x Zn x )(N 1‐ x O x ) as a photocatalyst has received increasing attention as a potential solution for the energy shortage challenge; however, its catalytic performance is highly limited by its bulk form. To improve the photochemical potential, the nanoscale form of this multiple‐metal oxynitrides is desirable. In this work, a new type of (Ga 1‐ x Zn x )(N 1‐ x O x ) nanostructure is obtained. Its composition can tuned to the full range (0.18 < x < 0.95). The (Ga 1‐ x Zn x )(N 1‐ x O x ) nanostructure exhibits excellent photocatalytic activity for overall water splitting, and the highest quantum efficiency of (Ga 1‐ x Zn x )(N 1‐ x O x ) is as high as 17.3% under visible light irradiation. Using this new type of (Ga 1‐ x Zn x )(N 1‐ x O x ) nanostructure, the narrowing of the bandgap for (Ga 1‐ x Zn x )(N 1‐ x O x ) is not only due to an increase in the valence band maximum, but it is also related to a decrease in the conduction band minimum.