Premium
Simultaneous Control over Lattice Doping and Nanocluster Modification of a Hybrid CuO x /TiO 2 Photocatalyst during Flame Synthesis for Enhancing Hydrogen Evolution
Author(s) -
Yang Fan,
Liu Menglei,
Chen Xin,
Xu Zuwei,
Zhao Haibo
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
solar rrl
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.544
H-Index - 37
ISSN - 2367-198X
DOI - 10.1002/solr.201800215
Subject(s) - photocatalysis , nanoclusters , materials science , anatase , catalysis , doping , photoluminescence , chemical engineering , valence (chemistry) , water splitting , nanotechnology , optoelectronics , chemistry , organic chemistry , engineering
Noble metal‐free hybrid photocatalysts have recently been extensively studied for their applications in the environment and energy field. However, rational design over these photocatalysts is still a challenging task because the detailed mechanism of multi‐component catalysts is not well understood yet. Here, we highlight a state‐of‐the‐art approach, one‐step flame spray pyrolysis (FSP), for preparing high‐efficiency hybrid CuO x /TiO 2 photocatalysts, where simultaneous control over lattice doping and nanocluster modification of Cu species on a TiO 2 support is achieved. Effective engineering of Cu valence is achieved, where the surface Cu + content varies from 15% to as high as 100%. Meanwhile, a high percentage (70–80 mol%) of TiO 2 photocatalytic active phase (anatase) is also maintained in the flame‐made catalysts. A dramatic enhancement in photocatalytic H 2 evolution efficiency of the hybrid catalyst is attained. The maximum photocatalytic H 2 evolution rate of the hybrid CuO x /TiO 2 catalyst under Xe lamp in a methanol aqueous solution can reach as high as 112.6 µmol h −1 , which is ≈22.1 times higher than that of commercial P25 TiO 2 . Mechanism investigation via density functional theory calculation and photoluminescence spectra validates that the bulk defect levels and surface‐deposited CuO x nanoclusters play key roles in charge separation and extending spectral response.