Issue 32, 2017

Promoted photoelectrocatalytic hydrogen evolution of a type II structure via an Al2O3 recombination barrier layer deposited using atomic layer deposition

Abstract

Constructing a semiconductor type II structure is an effective way to enhance the photogenerated charge separation efficiency. The separation and migration of interfacial photogenerated carriers is a key factor, which influences the photocatalytic activity. In this study, a conformal Al2O3 recombination barrier layer was introduced at the interface between TiO2 nanowires and CdSe nanoparticles, and the application of this composite in photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) hydrogen production was explored. Under visible-light irradiation, the photocurrent response and PEC hydrogen evolution performance increased step-by-step from TiO2 to the Al2O3/TiO2 and CdSe/Al2O3/TiO2 nanowire arrays. Moreover, the H2 evolution rate of CdSe/Al2O3/TiO2 was much higher than that of a different configuration, Al2O3/CdSe/TiO2. The enhanced PEC hydrogen evolution performance was attributed to the prevention of the interfacial charge recombination caused by the Al2O3 recombination barrier layer. Our results may shed new light on developing novel and highly efficient photocatalysts using rational interface design.

Graphical abstract: Promoted photoelectrocatalytic hydrogen evolution of a type II structure via an Al2O3 recombination barrier layer deposited using atomic layer deposition

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
17 Mac 2017
Accepted
13 Jul 2017
First published
18 Jul 2017

Dalton Trans., 2017,46, 10734-10741

Promoted photoelectrocatalytic hydrogen evolution of a type II structure via an Al2O3 recombination barrier layer deposited using atomic layer deposition

Y. Wang, W. Bai, H. Wang, Y. Jiang, S. Han, H. Sun, Y. Li, G. Jiang, Z. Zhao and Q. Huan, Dalton Trans., 2017, 46, 10734 DOI: 10.1039/C7DT00970D

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