Photocatalytic Water Splitting Under Visible Light with Particulate Semiconductor Catalysts

Photocatalytic water splitting (PWS) is the most promising technology to produce H₂ energy directly from renewable water and solar light. PWS has made a remarkable progress last decades under ultra-violet (UV) light, but there are many technical challenges remaining for PWS under visible light. Several approaches are taken in search of photocatalysts efficient for PWS under visible light: (i) to find new single phase materials, (ii) to decorate UV-active photocatalysts with a photosensitizer absorbing visible light, (iii) to tune the band gap energy by modifying cations or anions of UV-active photocatalysts with substitutional doping, and (iv) to fabricate multi-component photocatalysts by forming composites or solid solutions. This article discusses the above approaches based on our experimental results as well as data available in the literature. At the moment, the greatest challenge to the progress of visible light PWS is the low efficiency of light utilization. Finding new photocatalytic materials with unique structure and phase is still the key to the success. In addition, the synthesis of these materials with high crystallinity and high surface area is also important, because these properties exert great impact on the activity of the material of the same structure and phase. Finally, smart combination and modification of known materials could also be fruitful.     

可见光响应光解水制氢的半导体光催化剂

研究开发可见光响应的光催化剂一直是光解水制氢的首要目标，近年来通过能带调控等手段实现光催化剂的可见光化被广泛研究，并取得了令人注目的进展。本文综述了通过能带调变实现可见光化的各种手段，包括TiO₂掺杂特别是阴离子掺杂、能响应可见光的新型固溶体和单相光催化材料的开发以及Z-形反应系统的构筑，并且通过电子结构的分析阐述其可见光化的机理。     

光催化分解水的研究进展

阐述了利用光催化剂分解水获取氢气的原理和国内外的研究进展,特别对近几年来在开发新型高效半导体催化材料及拓展对可见光的响应等方面的研究工作进行了评述, 阐述了光催化分解水在解决能源紧缺和环境污染等方面的应用前景和今后的研究方向.     

Visible‐Light‐Active Elemental Photocatalysts

Seeking visible‐light‐active photocatalysts for efficient solar‐energy conversion has become an intensifying endeavor worldwide. In this concept paper, general requirements for finding new visible‐light‐active photocatalysts are briefly introduced, and recent progress in exploring elemental photocatalysts for clean‐energy generation and environmental remediation are reviewed. Finally, opportunities and challenges facing elemental photocatalysts are discussed.     

具有高活性宽光谱响应的新型光催化材料

以二氧化钛为代表的传统光催化材料只能利用短波长的紫外光,太阳光利用率和量子效率低,其广泛应用受到极大限制．针对这一问题,近年来我们开展了一系列具有高活性和（或）宽光谱响应（包括紫外及可见光）的新型纳米光催化材料的研究．本文简要总结了相应工作的进展,并对可能影响光催化材料的活性和光谱响应的相关因素进行了探讨．     

可见光铋系光催化剂的研究进展

当前工业发展导致了严重的能源和环境危机,光催化为这一难题提供了有效的解决方案.然而在实际应用中,传统氧化物光催化剂宽的带隙限制了它的可见光吸收,于是窄带隙光催化剂成为了研究的热点.其中铋系光催化剂以其高的可见光光催化活性引起了人们的广泛关注.因此本文介绍了铋系光催化剂的种类、制备、形貌、复合、性能等方面的研究现状,并展望了含铋可见光催化剂发展前景.     

GaN:ZnO solid solution as a photocatalyst for visible-light-driven overall water splitting

Photocatalytic overall water splitting has been studied extensively from the viewpoint of solar energy conversion. Despite numerous attempts, none have yielded satisfactory results for the development of photocatalysts, which work under visible light irradiation to efficiently utilize solar energy. We report here the first example of visible-light-driven overall water splitting on a novel oxynitride photocatalyst, a solid solution of GaN and ZnO with a band gap of 2.58-2.76 eV, modified with RuO2 nanoparticles. In contrast to the conventional non-oxide photocatalysts, such as CdS, the solid solution is stable during the overall water splitting reaction. This is the first example of achieving overall water splitting by a photocatalyst with a band gap in the visible light region, which opens the possibility of new non-oxide-type photocatalysts for energy conversion.     

Conjugated Polymers: Catalysts for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

Conjugated polymers, comprising fully π‐conjugated systems, present a new generation of heterogeneous photocatalysts for solar‐energy utilization. They have three key features, namely robustness, nontoxicity, and visible‐light activity, for photocatalytic processes, thus making them appealing candidates for scale‐up. Presented in this Minireview, is a brief summary on the recent development of various promising polymer photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution from aqueous solutions, including linear polymers, planarized polymers, triazine/heptazine polymers, and other related organic conjugated semiconductors, with a particular focus on the rational manipulation in the composition, architectures, and optical and electronic properties that are relevant to photophysical and photochemical properties. Some future trends and prospects for organic conjugated photocatalysts in artificial photosynthesis, by water splitting, are also envisaged.     

Structural Design Principle of Small‐Molecule Organic Semiconductors for Metal‐Free,Visible‐Light‐Promoted Photocatalysis

Herein, we report on the structural design principle of small‐molecule organic semiconductors as metal‐free, pure organic and visible light‐active photocatalysts. Two series of electron‐donor and acceptor‐type organic semiconductor molecules were synthesized to meet crucial requirements, such as 1) absorption range in the visible region, 2) sufficient photoredox potential, and 3) long lifetime of photogenerated excitons. The photocatalytic activity was demonstrated in the intermolecular C?H functionalization of electron‐rich heteroaromates with malonate derivatives. A mechanistic study of the light‐induced electron transport between the organic photocatalyst, substrate, and the sacrificial agent are described. With their tunable absorption range and defined energy‐band structure, the small‐molecule organic semiconductors could offer a new class of metal‐free and visible light‐active photocatalysts for chemical reactions.     

局部表面等离子体共振可调的MoO3-x-TiO2纳米复合物用于提高可见光下光催化还原CO2的性能(英文)

利用太阳能光催化还原CO₂和H₂O到燃料和化学品是一条极具吸引力但又充满挑战性的转化途径.迄今为止,只有非常有限的光催化剂已经被报道可以在可见光照射下光催化还原CO₂.局部表面等离子体共振(LSPR)现象可以被用作一种有效的开发可见光催化剂的策略.贵金属Au,Ag,Pt等的LSPR现象已经被较为广泛的研究,并应用于光催化、光热、气敏等多种领域.而低价态金属自掺杂的金属氧化物,如MoO_3-x和WO_3-x,也被证明具有LSPR现象,可用于开发更加廉价的可见光催化剂.本文通过简单的溶剂热法成功合成了低价态Mo自掺杂的MoO_3-x纳米片催化剂,并在合成过程中原位加入TiO₂纳米颗粒(TiO₂-NP)和TiO₂纳米棒(TiO₂-NT),构建了MoO_3-x-TiO₂纳米复合物.电镜表征显示,MoO_3-x-TiO     

Graphitic Carbon Nitride Polymers toward Sustainable Photoredox Catalysis

As a promising two‐dimensional conjugated polymer, graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C₃N₄) has been utilized as a low‐cost, robust, metal‐free, and visible‐light‐active photocatalyst in the field of solar energy conversion. This Review mainly describes the latest advances in g‐C₃N₄ photocatalysts for water splitting. Their application in CO₂ conversion, organosynthesis, and environmental purification is also briefly discussed. The methods to modify the electronic structure, nanostructure, crystal structure, and heterostructure of g‐C₃N₄, together with correlations between its structure and performance are illustrated. Perspectives on the challenges and opportunities for the future exploration of g‐C₃N₄ photocatalysts are provided. This Review will promote the utilization of g‐C₃N₄ materials in the fields of photocatalysis, energy conversion, environmental remediation, and sensors.     

负载贵金属光催化剂的光催化活性研究

在注入V离子的二氧化钛光催化剂上负载贵金属,制备了在可见光照射下具有高光催化活性的功能型光催化剂,研究在可见光和太阳光照射下丙炔的光催化水解反应，利用这些改性的二氧化钛构筑太阳能到化学能的转换系统.研究结果发现了V/Pt光催化剂在丙炔和水的光催化水解反应中，由于贵金属的存在，有利于促进发生加氢反应；导致丙烯的生成量增加.在可见光下的光催化活性也和负载贵金属所处的氧化状态有着密切的关系，贵金属完全被还原到0价是提高光催化活性的必要条件.     

可见光化的半导体光催化剂

光解水制氢能否实用化取决于太阳光的有效利用率, 研究开发可见光化的光催化剂成为当前光催化剂研究中的重要课题.本文介绍了利用 光解水制氢的反应机理,综述了近年来半导体光催化剂在利用可见光方面的研究进展,重点描述了这些光催化剂的结构,并对该领域今后的研究方向进行了展望.     

Design of Advanced Functional Materials Using Nanoporous Single‐Site Photocatalysts

Nanoporous silica solids can offer opportunities for hosting photocatalytic components such as various tetra‐coordinated transition metal ions to form systems referred to as “single‐site photocatalysts”. Under UV/visible‐light irradiation, they form charge transfer excited states, which exhibit a localized charge separation and thus behave differently from those of bulk semiconductor photocatalysts exemplified by TiO₂. This account presents an overview of the design of advanced functional materials based on the unique photo‐excited mechanisms of single‐site photocatalysts. Firstly, the incorporation of single‐site photocatalysts within transparent porous silica films will be introduced, which exhibit not only unique photocatalytic properties, but also high surface hydrophilicity with self‐cleaning and antifogging applications. Secondary, photo‐assisted deposition (PAD) of metal precursors on single‐site photocatalysts opens up a new route to prepare nanoparticles. Thirdly, visible light sensitive photocatalysts with single and/or binary oxides moieties can be prepared so as to use solar light, the ideal energy source.     

Simple preparation of Mn–N-codoped titania photocatalyst with visible light response

Mn–N-codoped TiO₂ nanocrystal photocatalysts responsive to visible light were synthesized for the first time by a simple hydrothermal synthesis method. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) measurement indicated that all the photocatalysts have an anatase crystallite structure, and that increase of the doping concentration had little effect on the structure and particle size. Compared to N-doped TiO₂, a shift of the absorption edge of Mn–N-codoped TiO₂ to a lower energy and a stronger absorption in the visible light region were observed. The Mn–N-codoped TiO₂ showed higher photocatalytic reactivity than undoped TiO₂ or N-doped TiO₂ for the photodegradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light irradiation. The highest photocatalytic activity was achieved on 0.4 mol% Mn–N–TiO₂ calcined at 673 K.     

Recent advances in kaolinite-based material for photocatalysts

The composite catalytic materials based on the mineral kaolinite are considered to be a potential approach for solving global energy scarcity and environmental pollution, which have excellent catalytic performance, low cost and excellent chemical stability. However, pure kaolinite does not have visible light absorption ability and cannot be used as a potential photocatalytic material. Fortunately, the unique physical and chemical properties of kaolinite can be acted as a good semiconductor carrier. Herein, this paper firstly presents the mineralogical characteristics of kaolinite. Next, kaolinite-based photocatalysts (such as TiO₂/kaolinite, g-C₃N₄/kaolinite, g-C₃N₄/TiO₂/kaolinite, ZnO) are discussed in detail from the formation of heterostructures, synthesis-modification methods, photocatalytic mechanisms, and electron transfer pathways. Furthermore, the specific role of kaolinite in photocatalytic materials is summarized and discussed. In addition, the photocatalytic applications of kaolinite-based photocatalysts in the fields of water decomposition, pollutant degradation, bacterial disinfection are reviewed. However, the modification of kaolinite is hard, the manufacture of a large number of kaolinite-based photocatalysts is difficult, the cost of doping noble metals is expensive, and the utilization rate of visible light is low, which limits its application in industrial practice. Finally, this paper presents some perspectives on the future development of kaolinite-based photocatalysts.     

Effect of nature and location of defects on bandgap narrowing in black TiO2 nanoparticles

The increasing need for new materials capable of solar fuel generation is central in the development of a green energy economy. In this contribution, we demonstrate that black TiO(2) nanoparticles obtained through a one-step reduction/crystallization process exhibit a bandgap of only 1.85 eV, which matches well with visible light absorption. The electronic structure of black TiO(2) nanoparticles is determined by the unique crystalline and defective core/disordered shell morphology. We introduce new insights that will be useful for the design of nanostructured photocatalysts for energy applications.     

Application of an Ion Beam Technique for the Design of Visible Light-Sensitive, Highly Efficient and Highly Selective Photocatalysts: Ion-Implantation and Ionized Cluster Beam Methods

As a new concept for the design of effective photocatalysts, an ion beam technology using accelerated metal ions, a metal ion implantation and an ionized cluster beam (ICB) method, have been applied to design unique photocatalysts. The metal ion implantation of TiO₂ and Ti-containing zeolites with highly accelerated metal ions (V⁺, Cr⁺, etc.) is useful in designing photocatalysts that can operate efficiently under visible light irradiation. Also, an ICB method with a low acceleration energy is useful in preparing transparent TiO₂ thin films on various types of substrates for the efficient photocatalytic degradation of pollutants diluted in water and air. The combination of the ICB method and metal ion implantation can develop the TiO₂ thin films that are able to operate not only under UV light but also under visible light irradiation.     

微波辅助制备CdS插层K2La2Ti3O10复合物及其光催化制氢的性能

采用微波辅助通过酸交换、胺柱撑、离子交换等步骤制备了CdS插层的K2La2Ti3O10(记做CdS-K2La2Ti3O10)复合光催化剂.利用X射线粉末衍射(XRD),场发射扫描电子显微镜(SEM),紫外-可见漫反射吸收光谱(UV-Vis)和光致发光光谱(PL)等对产物进行表征,考察了CdS-K2La2Ti3O10在紫外光及可见光下催化制氢活性.结果表明,微波辅助法与传统法制备的插层复合催化剂晶型结构相似,同时大大减少了离子交换反应时间,减少了对层间结构的破坏,拓展了催化剂的可见光吸收范围.微波辅助制备的催化剂在紫外光和可见光照射3 h后的产氢量分别为221.53 mmol/(g cat.)和3.23 mmol/(g cat.),并对光催化机理进行了分析.     

提高MIL-125(Ti)-NH2可见光催化活性的研究进展

太阳能是一种清洁的可再生能源,其中,可见光占太阳能总能量的45%。发展可见光响应的光催化剂是光催化领域重要的研究内容之一。NH₂-MIL-125（Ti）是一种有代表性的金属有机骨架可见光催化剂,但其存在可见光利用效率不高、光生电子-空穴对复合快等缺点。近年来,研究者们通过对NH₂-MIL-125（Ti）的晶面、结构和组成进行调控和修饰,提高其可见光催化活性。本文对近年来报道的关于提高NH₂-MIL-125（Ti）可见光催化活性的方法进行了综述,并对NH₂-MIL-125（Ti）基可见光催化剂的发展方向提出了建议,以期为NH₂-MIL-125（Ti）在光催化反应中进一步应用研究提供参考。