Zhiliang Jin

Structural-Dependent Photoactivities of TiO2 Nanoribbon for Visible-Light-Induced H2 Evolution: The Roles of Nanocavities and Alternate Structures

Bicrystalline dehydrated nanoribbon (DNR) with alternate structure of TiO(2)(B) and anatase has been prepared by a short-time annealing method. It is photoactive for photocatalytic H(2) evolution from water in the visible region sensitized by a novel heteropoly blue sensitizer. The effects of annealing temperature and time on the DNR phase transformation process have been investigated. These results reveal that the nanocavity structure of TiO(2)(B) exhibits a narrow band gap and improves its absorbance coefficient in the visible region. The alternate structures of TiO(2)(B) and anatase improve interfacial electron separation and transfer. Compared with normal phase junction, the smoothing alternate joints in the band structure of DNR-600-30 provide an effective route for the movement of holes and electrons. This unique alternate bicrystalline structure has a significant advantage on its applications in photocatalysis and nanodevices.

Photosensitized reduction of water to hydrogen using novel Maya blue-like organic–inorganic hybrid material

On the basis of the understanding that membranes play an important role in the separation of the intermediate photoproducts in the photosynthetic process, a novel efficient hydrogen evolution system was constructed with Maya blue-like organic-inorganic hybrid material as a photocatalyst, in which palygorskite acts as matrix and Eosin Y as a photosensitizer. Under visible light irradiation (lambda > or = 420 nm), the highest rate of hydrogen evolution and apparent quantum yield are about 3247.2 micromol h(-1) (g Eosin Y)(-1) and 12.5%, respectively. Negatively charged palygorskite particles could control the photosensitized electron-transfer reaction by means of electrostatic interaction. Based on the activities of hydrogen generation and the experimental measurements of UV-vis absorbance and fluorescence, a probable mechanism for photosensitized hydrogen evolution was postulated.

Modulating photogenerated electron transfer with selectively exposed Co–Mo facets on a novel amorphous g-C3N4/CoxMo1−xS2 photocatalyst

Novel photocatalysts, g-C3N4/CoxMo1−xS2 with different exposed facets of Co–Mo, were employed as catalysts for the examination of facet-dependent catalytic activity toward photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from water splitting with Eosin Y photosensitized as an antenna molecule under visible light irradiation. The studies showed that the g-C3N4/CoxMo1−xS2 photocatalysts had higher activities than g-C3N4/MoS2 and g-C3N4/CoSx. The promoter Co atoms associated with Mo displayed synergistic effects and efficiently induced photo-generated charge carriers and electron transfer. A possible reaction mechanism for g-C3N4/CoxMo1−xS was corroborated using photo-luminescence spectra, photo-electro-chemical characterizations and electro-chemical impedance spectra studies. This study discloses the facet-dependent effect of metal–metal co-catalysts on semiconductor photo-catalysts in photo-catalytic water reduction, and will give an insight into the design and synthesis of highly efficient metal/semiconductor hybrid photocatalysts.

Fabrication and behaviors of CdS on Bi2MoO6 thin film photoanodes

Most Bi-based photoelectrodes have suitable band gaps and can effectively promote hydrogen evolution from water splitting, but there are few studies up to now for simple preparation methods for Bi-based binary metal oxides as photoanodes. Here, we prepared a novel Bi2MoO6 thin film photo-anode without a template; our preparation methods of Bi-based binary metal oxides with controlled morphologies were conducted by growing the Bi2MoO6 directly on an electrical substrate via an in situ growth process. The photoanodes show well-shaped thin film morphologies and exhibit impressive photoelectrochemical properties compared to the Bi-based photoanodes synthesized by conventional methods. A 2× enhanced photocurrent was obtained when the Bi2MoO6 thin film photoanodes were modified with CdS in comparison with the primary Bi2MoO6 (about 0.85 mA cm−2) under identical conditions. The enhanced photoelectrochemical properties were studied using several techniques including SEM, XRD, XPS, UV-vis diffuse reflectance, etc. and the results were in good agreement with each other. Moreover, the Bi2MoO6 thin film photoanodes possess long-term stability under solar irradiation and show a considerable photocurrent.