Issue 4, 2016

Cu2O clusters grown on TiO2 nanoplates as efficient photocatalysts for hydrogen generation

Abstract

Conversion of solar energy into chemical energy in the form of so-called “solar fuels”, e.g., hydrogen, methane etc., is considered as one of the most promising methods to solve the future energy and environment challenges. Herein, ultrafine Cu2O clusters are in situ uniformly grown on the surface of TiO2 nanoplates (Cu2O/TiO2) via a one-pot hydrothermal method. The morphology and structure of Cu2O/TiO2 products are investigated by different characterization techniques. Furthermore, a detailed study on photocatalytic hydrogen generation demonstrates that the charge transfer of TiO2 with Cu2O loading is significantly accelerated, leading to high charge separation efficiency. Impressively, Cu2O/TiO2 exhibits superior catalytic activity towards water reduction, which is even higher than that of TiO2 loaded with noble metal Au nanoparticles. The strategy, facilitating charge transfer by construction of a heterojunction interface with cheap transition metal oxides, will offer the opportunity toward practical application of nanomaterials in energy conversion.

Graphical abstract: Cu2O clusters grown on TiO2 nanoplates as efficient photocatalysts for hydrogen generation

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Research Article
Submitted
11 ဒီ 2015
Accepted
04 ဇန် 2016
First published
06 ဇန် 2016

Inorg. Chem. Front., 2016,3, 488-493

Cu2O clusters grown on TiO2 nanoplates as efficient photocatalysts for hydrogen generation

K. Zhao, S. Zhao, J. Qi, H. Yin, C. Gao, A. M. Khattak, Y. Wu, A. Iqbal, L. Wu, Y. Gao, R. Yu and Z. Tang, Inorg. Chem. Front., 2016, 3, 488 DOI: 10.1039/C5QI00284B

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements