TiO2/石墨烯复合材料的光生电荷分离调控与光催化产氢性能研究

半导体光生电荷分离是光催化过程中的关键步骤之一,其效率极大地影响了最终光催化性能.将TiO₂纳米片与石墨烯复合,能够促进TiO₂中光生电子和空穴的分离,从而提高其光催化活性.为了研究光生电荷的分离对TiO₂/石墨烯复合材料光催化性能的影响,通过调控TiO₂纳米片的尺寸来调节TiO₂/石墨烯复合材料中光生电荷分离的能力,然后研究其对TiO₂/石墨烯复合材料光催化性能的影响.合成了一系列不同厚度的TiO₂纳米片,将其与石墨烯复合,并通过光沉积负载Pt纳米颗粒作为助催化剂,用于光催化产氢.实验结果显示,随着TiO₂纳米片厚度减小,其与石墨烯形成的复合结构的光催化性能显著提高.这主要是由于TiO₂纳米片厚度减小时,光生电子沿厚度方向穿过TiO₂纳米片迁移到石墨烯的距离缩短,从而减少了光生电子在迁移过程中与空穴的复合;同时TiO₂纳米片厚度减小使其比表面积增大,使得TiO₂/石墨烯界面面积增大,从而使石墨烯更好地分离出TiO₂中的光生电子,有更多的光生电子到达石墨烯参与催化反应,提高TiO₂/石墨烯复合材料的光催化性能.此研究表明通过控制TiO₂纳米片的尺寸来调控TiO₂/石墨烯复合材料中光生电子和空穴的分离,是显著提高其光催化性能的有效途径.     

修饰吡啶衍生物的染料敏化光阳极水氧化性能的研究

染料敏化光电化学电池(DSPECs)是构建人工光合作用体系的潜在方式,其优势在于可通过优化染料结构来拓展可见光吸收范围,从根本上提高太阳能利用效率.染料敏化光阳极在受激发产生电荷分离之后,激发电子注入TiO₂半导体导带,由于其导带位置比传统的可见光半导体,如BiVO4和Fe3O4等相比较负,因此理论上可以在较小的偏压下取得较大的光电转换效率,也更有利于和光阴极相耦合实现无偏压分解水.电荷传输动力学研究表明,注入到TiO₂导带的电子向氧化态光敏剂和催化剂的回传是造成体系能量损失的主要原因,集中体现在光电流密度和效率的降低.目前,已经报道了多种手段来减少DSPECs光阳极表面的电子回传,包括使用带有长烷基链的锚定基团对水氧化催化剂进行修饰,在半导体表面引入电子中介体以及使用核-壳结构的基底等.其中,SnO2/TiO₂基底被广泛应用在染料敏化光阳极中,这种基底可以提高光生电子的注入效率,同时两种金属氧化物之间的异质结有效抑制了电子回传,从而提高了DSPECs的光电活性.然而,核-壳结构基底需要使用原子层沉积技术来制备,所以操作相对复杂.本文基于Ru-bda(bda=2,2'-联吡啶-6,6'-二羧酸)结构的分子水氧化催化剂和带有磷酸修饰基团的三联吡啶钌通过共吸附的方式制备染料敏化光阳极,在不使用核-壳结构基底的情况下,利用吡啶衍生物对TiO₂电极表面的修饰来减少电子回传.本文利用一系列吡啶衍生物作修饰负载在TiO₂光阳极上(TiO₂|RuP,1;RuP=Ru(4,4'-(PO3H2)2-2,2'-联吡啶)(2,2'-联吡啶)2;1=Ru(bda)(L)2,bda=2,2'-联吡啶-6,6'-二羧酸,L=(10-吡啶-4-基氧基)癸基)膦酸.在100 mW/cm2的白光照射下(λ>400 nm),TiO₂|RuP,1,P1(P1=4-羟基吡啶)光阳极在0.4 V(vs.NHE)的外加偏压下获得了1 mA/cm2的光电流密度,其光电流比未修饰吡啶的光阳极增加了42%.同时,其入射光子-电流转化效率在470 nm波长的单色光光照下达到最大,为13.6%.经过吡啶衍生物所修饰的光阳极光电性能和文献中利用核-壳结构基底所制备的类似光阳极性能相当,且光电流密度随吡啶对位取代基供电性能的增强而增大.瞬态吸收光谱和电化学阻抗谱测试表明,吡啶吸附在光阳极上能有效地抑制界面上的电子回传,延长电荷分离寿命,是光电流增加的根本原因,这也表明有机小分子修饰是提高染料敏化光阳极性能的简单、有效的策略.     

BiPO4/石墨烯光电极的制备及其光电催化性能（英文）

光电催化(PEC)氧化法是一种使用半导体电极材料在光和电的共同作用下处理水中有机污染的有效方法.在PEC工艺中,施加偏压不仅可以利用电催化对有机污染物进行降解,而且在偏压作用下,光生电子-空穴对能够得到有效的分离和传输,从而大大提高了机物污染物的去除速率.尽管PEC技术已经取得了许多重要的突破,但是能量转换效率仍然无法满足实际应用.因此,开发具有优异性能,良好稳定性和低成本的光电极材料是一项具有挑战性的研究工作.本文采用两步电沉积法制备了BiPO4纳米棒/还原氧化石墨烯/FTO复合光电极(BiPO4/r GO/FTO).电镜结果表明,电沉积制得的纳米棒状磷酸铋均匀负载在石墨烯纳米片层表面.采用甲基橙为模型体系,考察了复合光电极的光电催化活性.BiPO4/r GO/FTO复合电极的光电催化降解速率是BiPO4/FTO光电极的2.8倍,显示出优良的光电催化活性.实验进一步研究了工作电压和BiPO4沉积时间对甲基橙光电降解性能的影响.最佳的BiPO4沉积时间为45 min,最佳工作电压为1.2 V.捕获实验和ESR实验表明羟基自由基(·OH)和超氧化物自由基(·O2-)是该电极的主要活性物种.BiPO4/r GO/FTO复合电极经过四次循环实验后其降解甲基橙效率保持不变,显示出高稳定性,采用光电流,交流阻抗及其荧光测试对其光催化机理进行推测.结果表明该复合光电极具有高PEC活性的主要原因是:石墨烯的引入加快了BiPO4的电子空穴的分离,拓宽了石墨烯的可见光吸收范围;同时,石墨烯诱导产生的BiPO4混合相也进一步促进了光生电子空穴的分离,提高了光电降解活性.     

TiN_(0.3)/CeO_2光阳极材料的构筑及其光电催化性能(英文)

采用高温氮化法在Ti片基底上生长一层TiN0.3薄膜,进一步利用电化学沉积法在TiN0.3薄膜上生长CeO2,制备了TiN0.3/CeO2复合材料.分别用X射线衍射和扫描电镜研究了复合材料的晶体和形貌结构,用紫外-可见光谱探究了材料的光学吸收性能.结果表明,球状CeO2颗粒均匀地分布在TiN0.3表面;该复合光阳极除了TiN0.3对可见光的吸收外,外层的CeO2同时实现了对紫外光的吸收.光电催化性能研究发现,TiN0.3/CeO2复合光阳极能够显著提高TiN0.3或CeO2的光电流密度,同时增加光电流的稳定性.TiN0.3/CeO2独特的双层结构是其光电催化性能提高的主要原因.在TiN0.3与CeO2界面处异质结构的驱动下,CeO2层中的光生电子迁移至TiN0.3层,而相应的光生空穴在界面处被Ce3+所消耗,从而提高了CeO 2层中电子和空穴的分离效率,光电流密度也随之提高;同时,位于CeO2与电解液界面处的Ce3+作为水分子的吸附中心和反应活性中心,加快了界面处水的氧化反应,从而进一步促进了稳定光电流的产生.鉴于TiN0.3/CeO2光阳极材料优良的光电催化性能,其在太阳能光电催化领域具有潜在的应用,对于新型高效光电转化材料的设计与合成具有借鉴作用.     

高光催化活性的磷氧桥连TiO_2/g-C_3N_4纳米复合体的合成（英文）

石墨型氮化碳(g-C_3N_4)是一种新型非金属聚合物半导体材料,具有合理的能带结构、较好的稳定性及卓越的表面性质,因而受到了人们的广泛关注.目前,它作为光催化剂在降解污染物、光催化分解水产氢和光催化还原CO2方面正呈现出巨大的应用潜力.然而,g-C_3N_4可见光响应范围窄、比表面积较小、尤其是光生载流子易复合等缺陷制约着其光催化活性的进一步提高.针对以上问题,人们对g-C_3N_4进行了大量的改性研究,其中构建能级匹配的纳米半导体/g-C_3N_4异质结复合体是常用的有效改善g-C_3N_4光生电荷分离进而提高其光催化活性的手段.但现有相关文献往往忽略了复合体界面接触情况对光生电荷转移和分离的影响,从而在一定程度上影响对光催化性能的改善.本课题组前期工作表明,通过磷氧、硅氧功能桥的建立可加强TiO_2/Fe2O3,Zn O/BiVO_4纳米复合物的界面接触,从而促进光生电荷的迁移和分离,进而进一步提高纳米复合体的光催化活性.这样,通过构建磷氧桥有望改善TiO_2和g-C_3N_4的紧密连接,以促进光生电子由g-C_3N_4向TiO_2的迁移、改善光生载流子的分离,进而更加显著地提高g-C_3N_4的光催化活性.但是相关工作至今尚未见到报道.为此,本文通过简单的湿化学法成功地合成了磷氧(P–O)桥连的TiO_2/g-C_3N_4纳米复合体,并研究了P–O功能桥对TiO_2/g-C_3N_4纳米复合体光生电荷分离及其对光催化降解污染物及还原CO2活性的影响.结果表明,g-C_3N_4与适量的纳米TiO_2复合,尤其是g-C_3N_4与适量P–O桥连TiO_2的复合可进一步提高g-C_3N_4的光催化活性.基于气氛调控的表面光电压谱和光致发光谱等的分析,P-O桥连可促使g-C_3N_4的光生电子由g-C_3N_4向TiO_2转移,极大地促进了g-C_3N_4的光生电荷分离,因而使纳米复合体光催化活性大幅提高,其光催化降解2,4-DCP及还原CO2活性均为g-C_3N_4的3倍.此外,自由基捕获实验表明,·OH作为空穴调控的直接中间产物,其对2,4-DCP的降解起主导作用.     

高光催化活性的磷氧桥连TiO2/g-C3N4纳米复合体的合成

石墨型氮化碳(g-C3N4)是一种新型非金属聚合物半导体材料,具有合理的能带结构、较好的稳定性及卓越的表面性质,因而受到了人们的广泛关注.目前,它作为光催化剂在降解污染物、光催化分解水产氢和光催化还原CO2方面正呈现出巨大的应用潜力.然而,g-C3N4可见光响应范围窄、比表面积较小、尤其是光生载流子易复合等缺陷制约着其光催化活性的进一步提高.针对以上问题,人们对g-C3N4进行了大量的改性研究,其中构建能级匹配的纳米半导体/g-C3N4异质结复合体是常用的有效改善g-C3N4光生电荷分离进而提高其光催化活性的手段.但现有相关文献往往忽略了复合体界面接触情况对光生电荷转移和分离的影响,从而在一定程度上影响对光催化性能的改善.本课题组前期工作表明,通过磷氧、硅氧功能桥的建立可加强TiO2/Fe2O3,ZnO/BiVO4纳米复合物的界面接触,从而促进光生电荷的迁移和分离,进而进一步提高纳米复合体的光催化活性.这样,通过构建磷氧桥有望改善TiO2和g-C3N4的紧密连接,以促进光生电子由g-C3N4向TiO2的迁移、改善光生载流子的分离,进而更加显著地提高g-C3N4的光催化活性.但是相关工作至今尚未见到报道.为此,本文通过简单的湿化学法成功地合成了磷氧(P–O)桥连的TiO2/g-C3N4纳米复合体,并研究了P–O功能桥对TiO2/g-C3N4纳米复合体光生电荷分离及其对光催化降解污染物及还原CO2活性的影响.结果表明,g-C3N4与适量的纳米TiO2复合,尤其是g-C3N4与适量P–O桥连TiO2的复合可进一步提高g-C3N4的光催化活性.基于气氛调控的表面光电压谱和光致发光谱等的分析,P-O桥连可促使g-C3N4的光生电子由g-C3N4向TiO2转移,极大地促进了g-C3N4的光生电荷分离,因而使纳米复合体光催化活性大幅提高,其光催化降解2,4-DCP及还原CO2活性均为g-C3N4的3倍.此外,自由基捕获实验表明,·OH作为空穴调控的直接中间产物,其对2,4-DCP的降解起主导作用.     

CdS/石墨烯复合材料的制备及其可见光催化分解水产氢性能

以氧化石墨烯和CdS为原料, 在乙醇水溶液中采用CdS光催化还原法制备了CdS/石墨烯复合光催化材料, 并用透射电子显微镜(TEM)、X射线衍射(XRD)、傅里叶变换红外(FTIR)光谱、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)和瞬态光电流等技术对复合材料的结构和光电性能进行了表征. 可见光照射下(λ≥420 nm), 研究了该复合材料光催化分解水产氢的性能. 结果表明, 可见光照射下CdS的光生电子可有效地还原氧化石墨烯, 得到CdS与石墨烯之间具有强相互作用力的CdS/石墨烯复合材料. 与CdS相比, 复合材料中石墨烯作为良好的电子受体和传递介质, 可明显加快CdS光生电子的迁移速率, 提高光生载流子的分离效率, 从而增强复合材料的光电性能和光催化分解水产氢的活性.     

CdS/石墨烯纳米复合物的可见光催化效率和抗光腐蚀行为

制备了一系列CdS纳米晶/石墨烯(CdS/GR)复合物,并在可见光照条件下评价了其光催化降解亚甲基蓝的光催化效率和抗光腐蚀行为. 研究表明,石墨烯的引入加速了CdS纳米晶(NCs)光生电子的迁移速率,抑制了其光生电子-空穴的复合,有效改善了其光催化降解有机污染物的性能. CdS/GR复合物中的石墨烯含量显著影响其光催化效率,其中石墨烯含量为4.6%的光催化剂效率最高,其光电流是CdS NCs的2.3倍. 利用光电化学和X射线衍射技术进一步证实,石墨烯的引入抑制了CdS NCs光腐蚀的发生,提高了CdS/GR复合物的光催化稳定性.     

TiO2提高富碳氮化碳的光生电荷存储性能

氮化碳材料固有的导电性差、电子迁移率低等问题导致高光生电荷复合率,阻碍了其光生电荷存储性能的提高.为此,构建了TiO₂富碳氮化碳共轭聚合物(CPCN)界面异质结,以提高光生电荷分离率.采用具有高比表面积(220.03 m²/g)的TiO₂纳米晶介孔薄膜作为电子传输物质,通过增大TiO₂与CPCN之间的界面面积提高了电极反应活性,促进了光生空穴的高效抽取,获得了197 C/g的光生电荷存储容量.     

在光催化还原CO_2中具有高催化效率的八面体Cu_2O修饰的TiO_2纳米管（英文）

光催化还原CO2生成烃类燃料是一种可同时解决全球变暖和能源危机问题的最有效途径之一.尽管这方面的研究已经取得了一定的进展,但是整体的光催化转换效率还非常低.因此,需要发展更加高效的催化剂.由于半导体材料禁带宽度与太阳光谱相匹配,人们已经对其进行了广泛研究.其中Ti O2因具有无毒、强氧化性以及良好的光学和电学性质等而成为最主要的研究对象.但是对于光催化还原CO2反应来说,Ti O2仍存在很多不足,如只能吸收太阳光谱中的紫外光,光生载流子会快速结合,以及光生空穴的强氧化能力等,这些都限制了其光催化还原CO2的效率.采用窄禁带宽度半导体修饰Ti O2是解决上述不足的有效途径之一.本文采用简单的电化学方法成功制备了一种由窄禁带半导体Cu2O修饰的Ti O2纳米管(TNTs)的复合物,并运用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、X射线衍射(XRD)以及X射线光电子能谱(XPS)表征了所制备复合物的形貌、化学组成和结晶度.表征结果显示,所制备的Ti O2为整齐排列的纳米管阵列结构;复合物中的纳米颗粒为Cu2O;当电化学沉积Cu2O的时间为5 min时,得到的Cu2O纳米颗粒初步呈类八面体结构.随着沉积时间的增加,Cu2O颗粒尺寸增加,具有八面体结构.XRD和XPS结果表明,Ti O2纳米管为锐钛矿,八面体Cu2O纳米颗粒的主要暴露晶面为(111)面.我们还进一步研究了不同量Cu2O纳米颗粒修饰的Ti O2纳米管复合物在可见光以及模拟太阳光下光催化还原CO2的能力.在可见光下,由于自身的禁带宽度,纯净的Ti O2纳米管没有任何光催化还原CO2的能力;经过Cu2O纳米颗粒的修饰,复合物显现出明显的光催化还原CO2的能力,其中经过30 min Cu2O沉积的TNTs具有最高的光催化效率.在模拟太阳光下,经过15 min Cu2O沉积的TNTs具有最高的光催化效率.在所有光催化还原CO2过程中,主要碳氢产物为甲烷.为了深入地理解该复合体系在还原CO2中的高催化效率,我们对催化剂进行了进一步的表征.紫外-可见漫反射光谱表明,Cu2O八面体纳米颗粒的沉积将TNTs的吸收光谱拓展到了可见光区域,提高了复合物对太阳光的吸收能力.此外,我们还通过测试所制样品的光电流反应、荧光发射光谱以及电化学阻抗谱,研究了催化剂中光生电子和空穴的分离和迁移能力.结果表明,适量的Cu2O沉积提高了复合物对光的吸收能力,增加了光生载流子的数量,从而使更多的光生载流子参与光催化反应.综上,本文首次报道了八面体Cu2O纳米颗粒修饰TNTs复合物的光催化还原CO2的能力.在一定量的Cu2O纳米颗粒修饰下,该复合物在光催化还原CO2生成烃类反应中表现出高效性.经过一系列详细的表征和讨论,我们认为其高效性主要源于三个方面:(1)TNTs的管状结构为反应物的吸附提供了大量的活性位点,同时一维的管状结构更有利于光生载流子的运载,从而提高了电子和空穴的分离;(2)Cu2O纳米颗粒的修饰提高了催化剂对光的吸收,促进催化剂最大程度地利用太阳光;(3)TiO 2和Cu2O之间导带以及价带位置的匹配,在减少光生载流子复合的同时也降低了Ti O2价带上空穴的氧化能力,从而抑制了CO2还原产物的再氧化过程.     

Carbon modified (CM)-n-TiO2 thin films for efficient water splitting to H2 and O2 under xenon lamp light and natural sunlight illuminations

Visible light-active carbon modified n-type titanium oxide (CM-n-TiO₂) thin films were synthesized by both flame oxidation and a combination of spray pyrolysis and flame oxidation. An undoped reference sample was also synthesized in an electric oven for comparison. Photoresponse of CM-n-TiO₂ and n-TiO₂ was evaluated by measuring the rates of water splitting to hydrogen and oxygen, in terms of observed photocurrent densities. Under monochromatic illumination from a xenon lamp, the integrated photocurrent densities from 300 nm to wavelengths corresponding to band gaps were found to be 1.12, 7.7, and 12.7 mA cm⁻² for optimized oven-made n-TiO₂ (sample 1), flame-made (sample 2), and spray pyrolysis flame-made CM-n-TiO₂ (sample 3) thin films at 0.48, 0.24, and 0.215 V biases, respectively. The corresponding maximum photoconversion efficiencies for these thin films were 0.84%, 7.62%, and 12.89%, respectively. Under actual natural global AM 1.5 sunlight illumination of 1 sun, the photocurrent densities for water splitting were 0.85, 5.89, and 12.27 mA cm⁻² for samples 1, 2, and 3, respectively. These photocurrent densities generated the maximum photoconversion efficiencies of 0.67%, 5.63%, and 12.26% for samples 1, 2, and 3, respectively, under global sunlight illuminations. These values compared well with those found under monochromatic light illumination from the xenon lamp. The increasing efficiencies were found to be consistent with lowering of main band gap from 3.0 eV to 2.65 eV and the generation of mid-gap bands at 1.6 eV and 1.4 eV above the valence band for samples 2 and 3, respectively. Carbon contents were found to be 0.0, 17.60, and 23.23 atom% for samples 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Dedicated to the 85th birthday of John O’ M. Bockris.     

Light-driven water splitting for (bio-)hydrogen production: photosystem 2 as the central part of a bioelectrochemical device

To establish a semiartificial device for (bio-)hydrogen production utilizing photosynthetic water oxidation, we report on the immobilization of a Photosystem 2 on electrode surfaces. For this purpose, an isolated Photosystem 2 with a genetically introduced His tag from the cyanobacterium Thermosynechococcus elongatus was attached onto gold electrodes modified with thiolates bearing terminal Ni(II)-nitrilotriacetic acid groups. Surface enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy showed the binding kinetics of Photosystem 2, whereas surface plasmon resonance measurements allowed the amount of protein adsorbed to be quantified. On the basis of these data, the surface coverage was calculated to be 0.29 pmol protein cm(-2), which is in agreement with the formation of a monomolecular film on the electrode surface. Upon illumination, the generation of a photocurrent was observed with current densities of up to 14 microA cm(-2) . This photocurrent is clearly dependent on light quality showing an action spectrum similar to an isolated Photosystem 2. The achieved current densities are equivalent to the highest reported oxygen evolution activities in solution under comparable conditions.     

含不同链长的三个卟啉LB膜修饰电极的光电响应研究

利用LB (Langmuir-Blodgett)技术将含不同链长的卟啉化合物(C4Py, C6Py和C8Py)单层膜转移到ITO (indium-tin oxide)导电玻璃上, 发现其具有良好的光电转换性质. 卟啉化合物修饰后的紫外吸收光谱与光电流工作谱重叠, 表明卟啉化合物起到了敏化光电流产生的效果; 而且电子给体、电子受体和偏压对其敏化效果的实验结果表明: 光诱导电子转移是产生光电响应的主要原因. 而且, 这三个卟啉化合物的光电响应性质与碳链长度相关, 其中含有六个碳链的C6Py表现出最佳的光电转化效果.     

Visible Light Photoelectrochemical Sensor for Acetaminophen Determination using a Glassy Carbon Electrode Modified with BiVO4 Nanoparticles

A new and simple photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensor using a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄) nanoparticles and dihexadecyl phosphate (DHP) film was useful for acetaminophen (AC) determination. In 0.2 mol L⁻¹ phosphate buffer (pH=9), the GCE without modification exhibited the smaller photocurrent (0.86 μA) when compared with GCE modified with 1.0 mg mL⁻¹ or 2.0 mg mL⁻¹ BiVO₄ nanoparticles suspension (5.9 and 34 μA, respectively). Based on the photocurrent signal generated through the interaction between GCE, BiVO₄ and the energy of visible light a chronoamperometric method for AC determination was developed. The AC linear range concentration from 0.099 to 0.99 μmol L⁻¹ and limits of detection and quantification of 0.027 and 0.091 μmol L⁻¹, respectively, was obtained. The proposed method was applied to the AC determination in commercial drugs and tap water with satisfactory accuracy and precision. Moreover, the PEC construction was easy and had a short response time, which might confer higher sample throughput for the method.     

Photoelectrochemistry of conducting polymers modified with electron-acceptor moieties

The photoelectrochemical behavior of two polymers of the polythiophene series containing electron-acceptor groups in the main chain was studied and compared to that of the nonmodified polymer, poly(2,2'-bithiophene), PBT. The acceptor groups were 2,2'-bipyridine and biphenyl, which are electron-deficient as compared to the bithiophene unit. All three polymers demonstrated a pronounced photovoltaic effect, which for PBT was consistent with data reported earlier. The introduction of the electron-acceptor moieties was found to significantly enhance the magnitude of the steady-state photocurrent as well as to drastically alter the dependencies of the photocurrent on the polymer film thickness and the external bias. These observations indicated that the mechanism of photocurrent generation in the modified polymers differs from that in nonmodified polymer and involves the electron transfer to the electron-acceptor moieties in the polymer main chain. The values of the external quantum efficiency were estimated in a liquid-cell arrangement to be 0.27 and 0.19% for modified and nonmodified polymers, respectively.     

Light-driven OR and XOR programmable chemical logic gates

Photoelectrodes made of nanocrystalline titanium dioxide modified with various pentacyanoferrates exhibit unique photoelectrochemical properties; photocurrent direction can be switched from anodic to cathodic and vice versa upon changes in photoelectrode potential and incident light wavelength (PhotoElectrochemical Photocurrent Switching, PEPS effect). At certain potentials, anodic photocurrent generated upon UV irradiation has the same intensity as the cathodic photocurrent generated upon visible irradiation. Under these conditions, simultaneous irradiation with UV and visible light results in compensation of anodic and cathodic photocurrents, and zero net photocurrent is observed. This process can be used for construction of unique light-driven chemical logic gates.     

聚3-甲基噻吩修饰量子点硫化铅连接TiO2纳米结构膜的光电化学研究

采用原位化学法在纳米结构TiO2电极上制备了量子点PbS(Q-PbS), 并用电化学方法在TiO2/Q-PbS表面聚合3-甲基噻吩[poly(3-Methylthiophene), PMeT]. 研究结果表明, PMeT和Q-PbS单独修饰纳米结构TiO2电极和PMeT修饰Q-PbS连接纳米结构TiO2电极的光电流产生的起始波长都向长波方向移动; 在可见光区光电转换效率均比纳米结构TiO2的光电转换效率提高显著; PMeT与Q-PbS修饰的纳米结构TiO2之间存在p-n异质结. 在一定条件下p-n异质结的存在有利于光生电子/空穴的分离, 提高了光电转换效率.     

Efficient charge injection from the S2 photoexcited state of special-pair mimic porphyrin assemblies anchored on a titanium-modified ITO anode

A novel surface fabrication methodology has been accomplished, aimed at efficient anodic photocurrent generation by a photoexcited porphyrin on an ITO (indium-tin oxide) electrode. The ITO electrode was submitted to a surface sol-gel process with titanium n-butoxide in order to deposit a titanium monolayer. Subsequently, porphyrins were assembled as monolayers on the titanium-treated ITO surface via phosphonate, isophthalate, and thiolate groups. Slipped-cofacial porphyrin dimers, the so-called artificial special pair at the photoreaction center, were organized through imidazolyl-to-zinc complementary coordination of imidazolylporphyrinatozinc(II) units, which were covalently immobilized by ring-closing olefin metathesis of allyl side chains. The modified surfaces were analyzed by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Photoirradiation of the porphyrin dimer generated a large anodic photocurrent in aqueous electrolyte solution containing hydroquinone as an electron sacrificer, due to the small reorganization energy of the dimer. The use of different linker groups led to significant differences in the efficiencies of anodic photocurrent generation. The apparent flat-band potentials evaluated from the photocurrent properties at various pH values and under biased conditions imply that the band structure of the ITO electrode is modified by the anchoring species. The quantum yield for the anodic photocurrent generation by photoexcitation at the Soret band is increased to 15 %, a surprisingly high value without a redox cascade structure on the ITO electrode surface, while excitation at the Q band is not so significant. Extensive exploration of the photocurrent properties has revealed that hot injection of the photoexcited electron from the S2 level into the conduction band of the ITO electrode takes place before internal conversion to the S1* state, through the strong electronic communication of the phosphonyl anchor with the sol-gel-modified ITO surface.     

Enhanced Photocurrent Generation of Graphene/Au@ZnO Honeycomb Film

A bio‐inspired graphene/Au@ZnO photoelectrode has been prepared via breath figure method, in which Au@ZnO nanospheres were uniformly distributed in the whole honeycomb film. The size of the honeycomb holes effects the light using efficiency. The honeycomb film with smaller holes in more ordered array shows better antireflective property. All the formed graphene/Au@ZnO honeycomb photoelectrodes show a fast, stable, and reversible response of photocurrent accompanied by each switch‐on and switch‐off event. Au@ZnO ‐modified graphene honeycomb film can combine the advantages of increased light harvesting provided by honeycomb structure, efficient charge separation from Au nanoparticles (NPs ), and efficient electron transfer provided by graphene. Au@ZnO ‐ modified graphene honeycomb film shows a two‐fold increase of photocurrent generation than ZnO ‐modified graphene honeycomb film and a three‐fold increase of photocurrent generation than Au@ZnO ‐modified graphene smooth film, respectively. The rational design and engineering of multi components with different functions in a hybrid bio‐inspired structure hold great promise for further efficient solar energy conversion devices.     

Highly stable water splitting on oxynitride TaON photoanode system under visible light irradiation

Highly stable photoelectrochemical water splitting is demonstrated for the first time on a tantalum oxynitride (TaON) photoanode under visible light irradiation. Highly dispersed CoO(x) nanoparticles on the TaON photoanode efficiently scavenge photogenerated holes and effectively suppress self-oxidative deactivation of the TaON surface, resulting in a stable photocurrent. The use of highly dispersed CoO(x) cocatalyst on TaON together with phosphate solutions significantly increased the photocurrent due to the formation of a cobalt/phosphate phase. This enabled us to stably split water into H(2) and O(2) under visible light irradiation at a relatively low applied bias (0.6 V vs Pt counter electrode).