可控合成具有氧化还原分区的Au-TiO2纳米哑铃光催化剂（英文）

太阳能因其环保清洁和来源丰富的特性被认为是最理想的资源之一.而光催化水分解是将太阳能转化为化学能的众多转换技术中,使用最广泛的策略之一.但H2和O2的逆反应显著降低了光催化水分解的效率,并且在实际应用中需要高昂的气体分离成本.因此,找到一种既可实现光催化有效水分解,同时抑制逆反应的策略具有十分重要的意义.到目前为止,为了实现光生电荷的有效分离,构建一维(1D)异质纳米结构光催化剂,被认为是抑制逆反应最有效的策略之一.其中哑铃状纳米结构,如Au-SiO2,Au-Fe3O4,Cu1.94S-CuS,Au-PbS(PbSe),Cu-Ag,Ag-Fe3O4,在促进光生电荷有效分离方面具有很大优势.但关于上述哑铃状纳米结构材料合成条件相对复杂,生长机理尚不清楚.对此,我们通过一种简便的合成策略制备了Au纳米棒/TiO2纳米哑铃结构光催化剂(Au NRs/TiO2 NDs).TiO2纳米颗粒(NP)仅包裹在Au NRs的两端.由于其独特的结构,可以实现电子空穴的定向分离,并减少它们在光照射下的复合,从而显著地提高电荷分离效率.同时,形成了氧化和还原反应的空间分离区域,从而有效地抑制了逆反应.通过SEM,XRD,和UV-Vis研究了可控合成哑铃状结构形态的关键因素.发现反应温度和酸度对Au NRs末端TiO2的包裹量有显著影响.基于此,我们提出了Au NRs/TiO2 NDs结构光催化剂的合成机理.并且通过改变加入的NaHCO3含量精准调节TiO2在Au NRs两端的包覆量,从而逐步提高Au NRs/TiO2 NDs光催化剂的产氢活性.在不断优化条件下,H2产率可达60264μmol/g/h,大约是报道的Au/TiO2光催化剂6倍.而电化学测试结果显示,在UV光照射下,Au NRs末端TiO2的包裹量越大,光电流相应越大.进一步证明光生电子定向从TiO2注入到Au NRs中,发生还原反应,而空穴留在TiO2上,发生氧化反应,从而实现氧化还原反应的分区.

Controllable synthesis of Au-TiO2 nanodumbbell photocatalysts with spatial redox region

Photocatalytic water splitting has increasingly attracted attention as one of the most useful methods of converting solar energy into chemical fuel.However,the undesirable reverse reaction significantly limits the enhancement of efficiency.Herein,we fabricated an Au nanorods/TiO2 nanodumbbells structure photocatalyst(Au NRs/TiO2 NDs)via a facile synthetic strategy,which has spatially separated oxidation and reduction reaction zones.Owing to the unique structure,the charge separation of these photocatalysts can be significantly improved and the reverse reaction can be efficiently inhibited.The photogenerated electrons were injected from the TiO2 to the Au NRs,and a positively charged TiO2 region and negatively charged Au region were formed under UV irradiation.An enhanced hydrogen production performance was obtained compared with that seen in normal Au-TiO2 heterostructure.Under optimized conditions,the H2-production rate can reach up to 60,264μmol/g/h,about six times higher than previously reported Au/TiO2 photocatalysts.Besides this,our work also demonstrates the key factors of precise synthesis of the Au NRs/TiO2 NDs structure,which provides a new perspective and experience for the design of similar catalysts.