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Conjugated π Electrons of MOFs Drive Charge Separation at Heterostructures Interface for Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation
Author(s) -
Wang Xuewei,
Sun Wenming,
Tian Yang,
Dang Kun,
Zhang Qimeng,
Shen Zhurui,
Zhan Sihui
Publication year - 2021
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.202100367
Subject(s) - heterojunction , materials science , photocurrent , nanorod , water splitting , photocatalysis , chemical engineering , rutile , nanotechnology , optoelectronics , chemistry , catalysis , biochemistry , engineering
Photoanode material with high efficiency and stability is extensively desirable in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting for green/renewable energy source. Herein, novel heterostructures is constructed via coating rutile TiO 2 nanorods with metal organic framework (MOF) materials UiO‐66 or UiO‐67 (UiO‐66@TiO 2 and UiO‐67@TiO 2 ), respectively. The π electrons in the MOF linkers could increase the local electronegativity near the heterojunction interface due to the conjugation effect, thereby enhancing the internal electric field (IEF) at the heterojunction interface. The IEF could drive charge transfer following Z‐scheme mechanism in the prepared heterostructures, inducing photogenerated charge separation efficiency increasing as 156% and 253% for the UiO‐66@TiO 2 and UiO‐67@TiO 2 , respectively. Correspondingly, the UiO‐66@TiO 2 and UiO‐67@TiO 2 enhanced the photocurrent density as approximate two‐ and threefolds compared with that of pristine TiO 2 for PEC water oxidation in universal pH electrolytes. This work demonstrates an effective method of regulating the IEF of heterojunction toward further improved charge separation.