Direct Observation of Oxygen Vacancy Self‐Healing on TiO2 Photocatalysts for Solar Water Splitting

Oxygen vacancy (Vo) on transition metal oxides plays a crucial role in determining their chemical/physical properties. Conversely, the capability to directly detect the changing process of oxygen vacancies (Vos) will be important to realize their full potentials in the related fields. Herein, with a novel synchronous illumination X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (SI‐XPS) technique, we found that the surface Vos (surf‐Vos) exhibit a strong selectivity for binding with the water molecules, and sequentially capture an oxygen atom to achieve the anisotropic self‐healing of surface lattice oxygen. After this self‐healing process, the survived subsurface Vos (sub‐Vos) promote the charge excitation from Ti to O atoms due to the enriched electron located on low‐coordinated Ti sites. However, the excessive sub‐Vos would block the charge separation and transfer to TiO₂ surfaces resulted from the destroyed atomic structures. These findings open a new pathway to explore the dynamic changes of Vos and their roles on catalytic properties, not only in metal oxides, but in crystalline materials more generally.     

Single‐Nanoparticle Photoelectrochemistry at a Nanoparticulate TiO2‐Filmed Ultramicroelectrode

An ultrasensitive photoelectrochemical method for achieving real‐time detection of single nanoparticle collision events is presented. Using a micrometer‐thick nanoparticulate TiO₂‐filmed Au ultra‐microelectrode (TiO₂@Au UME), a sub‐millisecond photocurrent transient was observed for an individual N719‐tagged TiO₂ (N719@TiO₂) nanoparticle and is due to the instantaneous collision process. Owing to a trap‐limited electron diffusion process as the rate‐limiting step, a random three‐dimensional diffusion model was developed to simulate electron transport dynamics in TiO₂ film. The combination of theoretical simulation and high‐resolution photocurrent measurement allow electron‐transfer information of a single N719@TiO₂ nanoparticle to be quantified at single‐molecule accuracy and the electron diffusivity and the electron‐collection efficiency of TiO₂@Au UME to be estimated. This method provides a test for studies of photoinduced electron transfer at the single‐nanoparticle level.     

TiO2 Nanotubes: Nitrogen‐Ion Implantation at Low Dose Provides Noble‐Metal‐Free Photocatalytic H2‐Evolution Activity

Low‐dose nitrogen implantation induces an ion and damage profile in TiO₂ nanotubes that leads to “co‐catalytic” activity for photocatalytic H₂‐evolution (without the use of any noble metal). Ion implantation with adequate parameters creates this active zone limited to the top part of the tubes. The coupling of this top layer and the underlying non‐implanted part of the nanotubes additionally contributes to an efficient carrier separation and thus to a significantly enhanced H₂ generation.     

Effect of TiO2 on Altering Direction of Interfacial Charge Transfer in a TiO2‐Ag‐MPY‐FePc System by SERS

Interfacial charge transfer (CT) is of interest owing to its effect on the performance of molecular photovoltaic (PV) devices. The characteristics and structures of interfacial materials, such as TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) in some solar cells, are employed to adjust the CT process. In this study, three kinds of interfacial systems, including a solar cell‐like TiO₂‐Ag‐ p‐mercaptopyridine (MPY)‐ iron phthalocyanine (FePc) system, are compared to investigate the interfacial CT process using surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy. The SERS results show the significance of TiO₂ NPs in the system on altering the direction and path of the interfacial CT, which is closely associated with the CT enhancement contribution to SERS in such an interfacial system. SERS spectroscopy is expected to be a promising technique for the exploration and estimation of the interfacial CT behavior in PV devices, which may further extend the applications of SERS in the field of solar cells.     

Solar‐Energy‐Driven Photoelectrochemical Biosensing Using TiO2 Nanowires

Photoelectrochemical sensing represents a unique means for chemical and biological detection, with foci of optimizing semiconductor composition and electronic structures, surface functionalization layers, and chemical detection methods. Here, we have briefly discussed our recent developments of TiO₂ nanowire‐based photoelectrochemical sensing, with particular emphasis on three main detection mechanisms and corresponding examples. We have also demonstrated the use of the photoelectrochemical sensing of real‐time molecular reaction kinetic measurements, as well as direct interfacing of living cells and probing of cellular functions.     

TiO2/nanoclinoptilolite as an efficient nanocatalyst in the synthesis of substituted 2‐aminothiophenes

TiO₂/nanoclinoptilolite (TiO₂/NCP) was prepared by the mediation of hexadecyltrimethylammonium (HDTMA) as surfactant and used as an effective heterogeneous nanocatalyst for the preparation of substituted 2‐aminotiophenes. The modified HDTMA/NCP was impregnated with titanium(IV) chloride solution followed by calcination at 500 °C for 20 h. The obtained nanocomposite was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction. Moreover, the prepared nanocomposite had high stability and recoverability under mild and solvent‐free conditions.     

Three‐in‐One Oxygen Vacancies: Whole Visible‐Spectrum Absorption,Efficient Charge Separation,and Surface Site Activation for Robust CO2 Photoreduction

A facile and controllable in situ reduction strategy is used to create surface oxygen vacancies (OVs) on Aurivillius‐phase Sr₂Bi₂Nb₂TiO₁₂ nanosheets, which were prepared by a mineralizer‐assisted soft‐chemical method. Introduction of OVs on the surface of Sr₂Bi₂Nb₂TiO₁₂ extends photoresponse to cover the whole visible region and also tremendously promotes separation of photoinduced charge carriers. Adsorption and activation of CO₂ molecules on the surface of the catalyst are greatly enhanced. In the gas‐solid reaction system without co‐catalysts or sacrificial agents, OVs‐abundant Sr₂Bi₂Nb₂TiO₁₂ nanosheets show outstanding CO₂ photoreduction activity, producing CO with a rate of 17.11 μmol g^?1 h^?1, about 58 times higher than that of the bulk counterpart, surpassing most previously reported state‐of‐the‐art photocatalysts. Our study provides a three‐in‐one integrated solution to advance the performance of photocatalysts for solar‐energy conversion and generation of renewable energy.     

Photoelectrochemical H2 Evolution with a Hydrogenase Immobilized on a TiO2‐Protected Silicon Electrode

The combination of enzymes with semiconductors enables the photoelectrochemical characterization of electron‐transfer processes at highly active and well‐defined catalytic sites on a light‐harvesting electrode surface. Herein, we report the integration of a hydrogenase on a TiO₂‐coated p‐Si photocathode for the photo‐reduction of protons to H₂. The immobilized hydrogenase exhibits activity on Si attributable to a bifunctional TiO₂ layer, which protects the Si electrode from oxidation and acts as a biocompatible support layer for the productive adsorption of the enzyme. The p‐Si|TiO₂|hydrogenase photocathode displays visible‐light driven production of H₂ at an energy‐storing, positive electrochemical potential and an essentially quantitative faradaic efficiency. We have thus established a widely applicable platform to wire redox enzymes in an active configuration on a p‐type semiconductor photocathode through the engineering of the enzyme–materials interface.     

TiO2‐nanoparticles as efficient catalysts for the synthesis of pyridine dicarbonitriles

The catalytic effects of two forms of nano‐TiO₂, which are prepared via an ordinary or a magnetized process, are investigated in the synthesis of pyridine dicarbonitriles by one‐pot multicomponent reaction of 4‐methyl thiophenol, malononitrile, and aryl aldehydes. The results have shown that both prepared nano‐TiO₂ exhibited high catalytic activities toward the synthesis of pyridine dicarbonitrile derivatives but the nano‐TiO₂, which is prepared via a magnetized process, has shown better catalytic activity. Furthermore, this new catalytic method for the synthesis of pyridine dicarbonitriles provides rapid access to the desired compounds in high yields and so a simple work‐up procedure in the presence of water at room temperature. Therefore, this method represents a significant improvement incompatible of the other methods that are available for the synthesis of pyridine dicarbonitriles.     

Fabrication of Heterostructured Fe2TiO5–TiO2 Nanocages with Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Performance for Solar Energy Conversion

Photocatalysts with well‐designed compositions and structures are desirable for achieving highly efficient solar‐to‐chemical energy conversion. Heterostructured semiconductor photocatalysts with advanced hollow structures possess beneficial features for promoting the activity towards photocatalytic reactions. Here we develop a facile synthetic strategy for the fabrication of Fe₂TiO₅–TiO₂ nanocages (NCs) as anode materials in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting cells. A hydrothermal reaction is performed to transform MIL‐125(Ti) nanodisks (NDs) to Ti–Fe–O NCs, which are further converted to Fe₂TiO₅–TiO₂ NCs through a post annealing process. Owing to the compositional and structural advantages, the heterostructured Fe₂TiO₅–TiO₂ NCs show enhanced performance for PEC water oxidation compared with TiO₂ NDs, Fe₂TiO₅ nanoparticles (NPs) and Fe₂TiO₅–TiO₂ NPs.     

Adsorption of 4‐tert‐Butylpyridine on TiO2 Surface in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

4‐tert‐Butylpyridine (4‐TBP) has been widely used as additive in dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSC), owing to its improvement of the fill factor and the open circuit voltage of DSC. In this paper, the adsorption of 4‐TBP on the rutile TiO₂(110) surface in DSC was studied by using the density functional theory at DFT/B3LYP level. By comparing the results with those attained from experiments, it was concluded that the 4‐TBP could chemiadsorb on the incompletely covered surface Ti atoms in the electrode. The probable mechanism of compressed recombination by coordinated 4‐TBP in DSC was proposed.