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Lou P, Lee JY. GeC/GaN vdW Heterojunctions: A Promising Photocatalyst for Overall Water Splitting and Solar Energy Conversion. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2020; 12:14289-14297. [PMID: 32126761 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b20175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Two-dimensional van der Waals (vdW) heterojunctions have been regarded as promising candidates for photocatalytic water splitting and solar energy conversion. Here, we propose a two-dimensional GeC/GaN vdW heterostructure, where the GaN monolayer and the GeC monolayer are stacked. The binding energy, phonon spectrum, and elastic constants demonstrate this material's high dynamic and mechanical stability. Most notably, the GW band structure, GW + Bethe-Salpeter equation (BSE) optical absorption spectrum, and the band alignment of the density functional theory (DFT) scheme and empirical formula reveal that the GeC/GaN vdW heterostructures have a dramatically high optical absorption coefficient (∼105 cm-1) in the visible region and a suitable band edge with sufficiently large kinetic overpotentials of the hydrogen evolution reaction (ΔEc ≥ 1.945 eV) and the oxygen evolution reaction (ΔEv ≥ 1.244 eV). Photogenerated electrons and holes aggregate on the GeC monolayer and GaN monolayer surfaces, respectively, which could make this heterojunction a promising candidate for photocatalytic water splitting and solar energy conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Lou
- Department of Chemistry, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746, Korea
- Department of Physics, Anhui University, Hefei 230039, Anhui, China
| | - Jin Yong Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746, Korea
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52
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Li F, Li Y, Zhuo Q, Zhou D, Zhao Y, Zhao Z, Wu X, Shan Y, Sun L. Electroless Plating of NiFeP Alloy on the Surface of Silicon Photoanode for Efficient Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2020; 12:11479-11488. [PMID: 32056436 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b19418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
N-type silicon is a kind of semiconductor with a narrow band gap that has been reported as an outstanding light-harvesting material for photoelectrochemical (PEC) reactions. Decorating a thin catalyst layer on the n-type silicon surface can provide a direct and effective route toward PEC water oxidation. However, most of catalyst immobilization methods for reported n-type silicon photoanodes have been based on energetically demanding, time-consuming, and high-cost processes. Herein, a high-performance NiFeP alloy (NiFeP)-decorated n-type micro-pyramid silicon array (n-Si) photoanode (NiFeP/n-Si) was prepared by a fast and low-cost electroless deposition method for light-driven water oxidation reaction. The saturated photocurrent density of NiFeP/n-Si can reach up to ∼40 mA cm-2, and a photocurrent density of 15.5 mA cm-2 can be achieved at 1.23 VRHE under light illumination (100 mW cm-2, AM1.5 filter), which is one of the most promising silicon-based photoanodes to date. The kinetic studies showed that the NiFeP on the silicon photoanodes could significantly decrease the interfacial charge recombination between the n-type silicon surface and electrolyte.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fusheng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Institute of Artificial Photosynthesis, DUT-KTH Joint Education and Research Centre on Molecular Devices, Institute for Energy Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Yingzheng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Institute of Artificial Photosynthesis, DUT-KTH Joint Education and Research Centre on Molecular Devices, Institute for Energy Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Qiming Zhuo
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Institute of Artificial Photosynthesis, DUT-KTH Joint Education and Research Centre on Molecular Devices, Institute for Energy Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Dinghua Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Institute of Artificial Photosynthesis, DUT-KTH Joint Education and Research Centre on Molecular Devices, Institute for Energy Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Yilong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Institute of Artificial Photosynthesis, DUT-KTH Joint Education and Research Centre on Molecular Devices, Institute for Energy Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Ziqi Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Institute of Artificial Photosynthesis, DUT-KTH Joint Education and Research Centre on Molecular Devices, Institute for Energy Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Xiujuan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Institute of Artificial Photosynthesis, DUT-KTH Joint Education and Research Centre on Molecular Devices, Institute for Energy Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Yu Shan
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Institute of Artificial Photosynthesis, DUT-KTH Joint Education and Research Centre on Molecular Devices, Institute for Energy Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Licheng Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Institute of Artificial Photosynthesis, DUT-KTH Joint Education and Research Centre on Molecular Devices, Institute for Energy Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
- Department of Chemistry, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm 10044, Sweden
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53
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Moon J, Shin W, Park JT, Jang H. Solid-State Solar Energy Conversion from WO 3 Nano and Microstructures with Charge Transportation and Light-Scattering Characteristics. Nanomaterials (Basel) 2019; 9:nano9121797. [PMID: 31861072 PMCID: PMC6956145 DOI: 10.3390/nano9121797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Solar energy conversion devices composed of highly crystalline gel polymers with disk-WO3 nanostructure and plate-WO3 microstructures (D-WO3 and P-WO3, respectively) exhibited higher power conversion efficiency than those with a gel electrolyte. In this study, D-WO3 and P-WO3 were prepared using a hydrothermal process and their structural and morphological features were investigated for application in solar energy conversion devices. The P-WO3 solid-state electrolyte significantly enhanced the cell performance owing to its charge transportation and light-scattering characteristics. The P-WO3 solid-state electrolyte showed a power conversion efficiency of 6.3%, which is higher than those of the gel (4.2%) and D-WO3 solid-state (5.5%) electrolytes. The electro-chemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), intensity-modulated voltage spectroscopy (IMVS), diffuse reflectance, and incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) analysis results showed that the P-WO3 solid-state electrolyte showed improved charge transportation and light scattering, and hence enhanced the cell performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juyoung Moon
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Woojun Shin
- Department of Chemistry, Kwangwoon University, 20 Gwangwoon-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul 01897, Korea
| | - Jung Tae Park
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Korea
- Correspondence: (J.T.P.); (H.J.); Tel.: +82-2-450-3538 (J.T.P.); +82-2-940-8320 (H.J.)
| | - Hongje Jang
- Department of Chemistry, Kwangwoon University, 20 Gwangwoon-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul 01897, Korea
- Correspondence: (J.T.P.); (H.J.); Tel.: +82-2-450-3538 (J.T.P.); +82-2-940-8320 (H.J.)
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54
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Michalik M, Zbyradowski M, Fiedor L; Heriyanto. Tuning the Photophysical Features of Self-Assembling Photoactive Polypeptides for Light-Harvesting. Materials (Basel) 2019; 12:E3554. [PMID: 31671513 DOI: 10.3390/ma12213554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The LH1 complex is the major light-harvesting antenna of purple photosynthetic bacteria. Its role is to capture photons, and then store them and transfer the excitation energy to the photosynthetic reaction center. The structure of LH1 is modular and it cooperatively self-assembles from the subunits composed of short transmembrane polypeptides that reversibly bind the photoactive cofactors: bacteriochlorophyll and carotenoid. LH1 assembly, the intra-complex interactions and the light-harvesting features of LH1 can be controlled in micellar media by varying the surfactant concentration and by adding carotenoid and/or a co-solvent. By exploiting this approach, we can manipulate the size of the assembly, the intensity of light absorption, and the energy and lifetime of its first excited singlet state. For instance, via the introduction of Ni-substituted bacteriochlorophyll into LH1, the lifetime of this electronic state of the antenna can be shortened by almost three orders of magnitude. On the other hand, via the exchange of carotenoid, light absorption in the visible range can be tuned. These results show how in a relatively simple self-assembling pigment-polypeptide system a sophisticated functional tuning can be achieved and thus they provide guidelines for the construction of bio-inspired photoactive nanodevices.
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55
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Cheng L, Li Y, Chen A, Zhu Y, Li C. Subnano-Sized Pt-Au Alloyed Clusters as Enhanced Cocatalyst for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution. Chem Asian J 2019; 14:2112-2115. [PMID: 31025555 DOI: 10.1002/asia.201900453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Revised: 04/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Photocatalytic water splitting for H2 evolution is regarded as the most promising way to overcome the energy and environmental crisis. Pt clusters as a cocatalyst can efficiently enhance the performance of H2 generation in most photocatalysts, but the activity is still unsatisfied. By tuning the electronic structures of materials, one can develop catalysts with enhanced activity. Here we synthesize a Pt-Au alloy with subnano size as cocatalyst on TiO2 nanosheets for photocatalytic H2 generation that shows an outstanding activity with a H2 generation rate of 80.1 μmol h-1 for at least 100 h. The activity is twice than the pure Pt cocatalyst, mainly because the optimized hydrogen adsorption energy on Pt cluster is tuned by Au atoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Cheng
- Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Yuhang Li
- Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Aiping Chen
- Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Yihua Zhu
- Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Chunzhong Li
- Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China.,Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hierarchical Nanomaterials, School of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
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56
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Maeda K. Metal-Complex/Semiconductor Hybrid Photocatalysts and Photoelectrodes for CO 2 Reduction Driven by Visible Light. Adv Mater 2019; 31:e1808205. [PMID: 31066136 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201808205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Revised: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
CO2 reduction to carbon feedstocks using heterogeneous photocatalysts is an attractive means of addressing both climate change and the depletion of fossil fuels. Of particular importance is the development of a photosystem capable of functioning in response to visible light, which accounts for the majority of the solar spectrum, representing a kind of artificial photosynthesis. Hybrid systems comprising a metal complex and a semiconductor are promising because of the excellent electrochemical (and/or photocatalytic) activity of metal complexes during CO2 reduction and the ability of semiconductors to efficiently oxidize water to molecular O2 . Here, the development of hybrid photocatalysts and photoelectrodes for CO2 reduction in combination with water oxidation is described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhiko Maeda
- School of Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1-NE-2 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 152-8550, Japan
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57
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Abbas MA, Yoon SJ, Kim H, Lee J, Kamat PV, Bang JH. Ag(I)-Thiolate-Protected Silver Nanoclusters for Solar Cells: Electrochemical and Spectroscopic Look into the Photoelectrode/Electrolyte Interface. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2019; 11:12492-12503. [PMID: 30838846 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b00049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Intrinsic low stability and short excited lifetimes associated with Ag nanoclusters (NCs) are major hurdles that have prevented the full utilization of the many advantages of Ag NCs over their longtime contender, Au NCs, in light energy conversion systems. In this report, we diagnosed the problems of conventional thiolated Ag NCs used for solar cell applications and developed a new synthesis route to form aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-type Ag NCs that can significantly overcome these limitations. A series of Ag(0)/Ag(I)-thiolate core/shell-structured NCs with different core sizes were explored for photoelectrodes, and the nature of the two important interfacial events occurring in Ag NC-sensitized solar cells (photoinduced electron transfer and charge recombination) were unveiled by in-depth spectroscopic and electrochemical analyses. This work reveals that the subtle interplay between the light absorbing capability, charge separation dynamics, and charge recombination kinetics in the photoelectrode dictates the solar cell performance. In addition, we demonstrate significant improvement in the photocurrent stability and light conversion efficiency that have not been achieved previously. Our comprehensive understanding of the critical parameters that limit the light conversion efficiency lays a foundation on which new principles for designing Ag NCs for efficient light energy conversion can be built.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad A Abbas
- Nanosensor Research Institute , Hanyang University , 55 Hanyangdaehak-ro , Sangnok-gu, Ansan , Gyeonggi-do 15588 , Republic of Korea
| | - Seog Joon Yoon
- Notre Dame Radiation Laboratory and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry , University of Notre Dame , Notre Dame , Indiana 46556 , United States
| | - Hahkjoon Kim
- Department of Chemistry , Duksung Women's University , Seoul 01369 , Republic of Korea
| | | | - Prashant V Kamat
- Notre Dame Radiation Laboratory and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry , University of Notre Dame , Notre Dame , Indiana 46556 , United States
| | - Jin Ho Bang
- Nanosensor Research Institute , Hanyang University , 55 Hanyangdaehak-ro , Sangnok-gu, Ansan , Gyeonggi-do 15588 , Republic of Korea
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58
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Lee YV, Tian B. Learning from Solar Energy Conversion: Biointerfaces for Artificial Photosynthesis and Biological Modulation. Nano Lett 2019; 19:2189-2197. [PMID: 30888185 PMCID: PMC6800084 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.9b00388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Three seemingly distinct directions of nanomaterials research, photovoltaics, biofuel production, and biological modulation, have been sequentially developed over the past several decades. In this Mini Review, we discuss how the insights gleaned from nanomaterials-based solar energy conversion can be adapted to biointerface designs. Because of their size- and shape-dependent optical properties and excellent synthetic control, nanomaterials have shown unique technological advantages as the light absorbers or energy transducers. Biocompatible nanomaterials have also been incorporated into biological systems including biomolecules, bacteria, and eukaryotic cells for a large collection of fundamental studies and applications. For the photocatalytic biofuel production, either isolated bacterial enzymes or the entire bacteria have been hybridized with the nanomaterials, where functions from both parts are synergistically integrated. Likewise, interfacing nanomaterials with eukaryotic systems, whether in individual cells or tissues, has enabled optical modulation of cellular behavior and the construction of active cellular materials. Here we survey different approaches in which nanomaterials are used to elicit electrical or mechanical changes in single cells or cellular assemblies via photoelectrochemical or photothermal processes. We end this Mini Review with the discussion of future nongenetic modulation at the intracellular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youjin V. Lee
- Chemistry Department, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Bozhi Tian
- Chemistry Department, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
- The James Franck Institute, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
- The Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
- Corresponding Author
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59
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Higashi T, Nishiyama H, Suzuki Y, Sasaki Y, Hisatomi T, Katayama M, Minegishi T, Seki K, Yamada T, Domen K. Transparent Ta 3 N 5 Photoanodes for Efficient Oxygen Evolution toward the Development of Tandem Cells. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019; 58:2300-2304. [PMID: 30548747 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201812081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Revised: 12/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Photoelectrochemical water splitting is regarded as a promising approach to the production of hydrogen, and the development of efficient photoelectrodes is one aspect of realizing practical systems. In this work, transparent Ta3 N5 photoanodes were fabricated on n-type GaN/sapphire substrates to promote O2 evolution in tandem with a photocathode, to realize overall water splitting. Following the incorporation of an underlying GaN layer, a photocurrent of 6.3 mA cm-2 was achieved at 1.23 V vs. a reversible hydrogen electrode. The transparency of Ta3 N5 to wavelengths longer than 600 nm allowed incoming solar light to be transmitted to a CuInSe2 (CIS), which absorbs up to 1100 nm. A stand-alone tandem cell with a serially-connected dual-CIS unit terminated with a Pt/Ni electrode was thus constructed for H2 evolution. This tandem cell exhibited a solar-to-hydrogen energy conversion efficiency greater than 7 % at the initial stage of the reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomohiro Higashi
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Nishiyama
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan
| | - Yohichi Suzuki
- National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8565, Japan
| | - Yutaka Sasaki
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan
| | - Takashi Hisatomi
- Center for Energy & Environmental Science, Interdisciplinary Cluster for Cutting Edge Research, Shinshu University, 4-17-1 Wakasato, Nagano-shi, Nagano, 380-8553, Japan
| | - Masao Katayama
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Minegishi
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Seki
- National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8565, Japan
| | - Taro Yamada
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan
| | - Kazunari Domen
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan.,Center for Energy & Environmental Science, Interdisciplinary Cluster for Cutting Edge Research, Shinshu University, 4-17-1 Wakasato, Nagano-shi, Nagano, 380-8553, Japan
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Bonomo M, Dini D, Decker F. Electrochemical and Photoelectrochemical Properties of Nickel Oxide (NiO) With Nanostructured Morphology for Photoconversion Applications. Front Chem 2019; 6:601. [PMID: 30619811 PMCID: PMC6299045 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2018.00601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The cost-effective production of chemicals in electrolytic cells and the conversion of the radiation energy into electrical energy in photoelectrochemical cells (PECs) require the use of electrodes with large surface area, which possess either electrocatalytic or photoelectrocatalytic properties. In this context nanostructured semiconductors are electrodic materials of great relevance because of the possibility of varying their photoelectrocatalytic properties in a controlled fashion via doping, dye-sensitization or modification of the conditions of deposition. Among semiconductors for electrolysers and PECs the class of the transition metal oxides (TMOs) with a particular focus on NiO interests for the chemical-physical inertness in ambient conditions and the intrinsic electroactivity in the solid state. The latter aspect implies the existence of capacitive properties in TMO and NiO electrodes which thus act as charge storage systems. After a comparative analysis of the (photo)electrochemical properties of nanostructured TMO electrodes in the configuration of thin film the use of NiO and analogs for the specific applications of water photoelectrolysis and, secondly, photoelectrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Bonomo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Danilo Dini
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Franco Decker
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
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61
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Chen R, Pang S, An H, Dittrich T, Fan F, Li C. Giant Defect-Induced Effects on Nanoscale Charge Separation in Semiconductor Photocatalysts. Nano Lett 2019; 19:426-432. [PMID: 30585727 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.8b04245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Defects can markedly impact the performance of semiconductor-based photocatalysts, where the spatial separation of photogenerated charges is required for converting solar energy into fuels. However, understanding exactly how defects affect photogenerated charge separation at nanometer scale remains quite challenging. Here, using time- and space-resolved surface photovoltage approaches, we demonstrate that the distribution of surface photogenerated charges and the direction of photogenerated charge separation are determined by the defects distributed within a 100 nm surface region of a photocatalytic Cu2O particle. This is enabled by the defect-induced charge separation process, arising from the trapping of electrons at the near-surface defect states and the accumulation of holes at the surface states. More importantly, the driving force for defect-induced charge separation is greater than 4.2 kV/cm and can be used to drive photocatalytic reactions. These findings highlight the importance of near-surface defect engineering in promoting photogenerated charge separation and manipulating surface photogenerated charges; further, they open up a powerful avenue for improving photocatalytic charge separation and solar energy conversion efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruotian Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, The Collaborative Innovation Centre of Chemistry for Energy Materials ( iChEM) , Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics , Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongshan Road 457 , Dalian 116023 , China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100049 , China
| | - Shan Pang
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, The Collaborative Innovation Centre of Chemistry for Energy Materials ( iChEM) , Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics , Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongshan Road 457 , Dalian 116023 , China
| | - Hongyu An
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, The Collaborative Innovation Centre of Chemistry for Energy Materials ( iChEM) , Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics , Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongshan Road 457 , Dalian 116023 , China
| | - Thomas Dittrich
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH , Institut für Silizium-Photovoltaik , Kekuléstr. 5 , 12489 Berlin , Germany
| | - Fengtao Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, The Collaborative Innovation Centre of Chemistry for Energy Materials ( iChEM) , Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics , Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongshan Road 457 , Dalian 116023 , China
| | - Can Li
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, The Collaborative Innovation Centre of Chemistry for Energy Materials ( iChEM) , Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics , Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongshan Road 457 , Dalian 116023 , China
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62
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Karpacheva M, Housecroft CE, Constable EC. Electrolyte tuning in dye-sensitized solar cells with N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) iron(II) sensitizers. Beilstein J Nanotechnol 2018; 9:3069-3078. [PMID: 30643705 PMCID: PMC6317411 DOI: 10.3762/bjnano.9.285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate that the performances of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) sensitized with a previously reported N-heterocyclic carbene iron(II) dye in the presence of chenodeoxycholic acid co-adsorbant, can be considerably improved by altering the composition of the electrolyte while retaining an I-/I3 - redox shuttle. Critical factors are the solvent, presence of ionic liquid, and the use of the additives 1-methylbenzimidazole (MBI) and 4-tert-butylpyridine (TBP). For the electrolyte solvent, 3-methoxypropionitrile (MPN) is preferable to acetonitrile, leading to a higher short-circuit current density (J SC) with little change in the open-circuit voltage (V OC). For electrolytes containing MPN, an ionic liquid and MBI (0.5 M), DSC performance depended on the ionic liquid with 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluoridophosphate (EMIMPF) > 1,2-dimethyl-3-propylimidazolium iodide (DMPII) > 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide (BMII) ≈ 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluoridophosphate (BMIMPF). Omitting the MBI leads to a significant improvement in J SC when the ionic liquid is DMPII, BMII or BMIMPF, but with EMIMPF the removal of the MBI additive results in a dramatic decrease in V OC (542 to 42 mV). For electrolytes containing MPN and DMPII, the effects of altering the MBI concentration have also been investigated. Although the addition of TBP improves V OC, it causes significant decreases in J SC. The best performing DSCs with the NHC-iron(II) dye employ an I-/I3 --based electrolyte with MPN as solvent, DMPII ionic liquid (0.6 M) with no or 0.01 M MBI; values of J SC = 2.31 to 2.78 mA cm-2, V OC = 292 to 374 mV have been achieved giving η in the range of 0.47 to 0.57% which represents 7.8 to 9.3% relative to an N719 reference DSC set at 100%. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy has been used to understand the role of the MBI additive in the electrolytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariia Karpacheva
- Department of Chemistry, University Basel, BPR 1096, Mattenstrasse 24a, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Catherine E Housecroft
- Department of Chemistry, University Basel, BPR 1096, Mattenstrasse 24a, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Edwin C Constable
- Department of Chemistry, University Basel, BPR 1096, Mattenstrasse 24a, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
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63
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Xu J, Tong X, Yu P, Wenya GE, McGrath T, Fong MJ, Wu J, Wang ZM. Ultrafast Dynamics of Charge Transfer and Photochemical Reactions in Solar Energy Conversion. Adv Sci (Weinh) 2018; 5:1800221. [PMID: 30581691 PMCID: PMC6299728 DOI: 10.1002/advs.201800221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Revised: 08/05/2018] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
For decades, ultrafast time-resolved spectroscopy has found its way into an increasing number of applications. It has become a vital technique to investigate energy conversion processes and charge transfer dynamics in optoelectronic systems such as solar cells and solar-driven photocatalytic applications. The understanding of charge transfer and photochemical reactions can help optimize and improve the performance of relevant devices with solar energy conversion processes. Here, the fundamental principles of photochemical and photophysical processes in photoinduced reactions, in which the fundamental charge carrier dynamic processes include interfacial electron transfer, singlet excitons, triplet excitons, excitons fission, and recombination, are reviewed. Transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy techniques provide a good understanding of the energy/electron transfer processes. These processes, including excited state generation and interfacial energy/electron transfer, are dominate constituents of solar energy conversion applications, for example, dye-sensitized solar cells and photocatalysis. An outlook for intrinsic electron/energy transfer dynamics via TA spectroscopic characterization is provided, establishing a foundation for the rational design of solar energy conversion devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing‐Yin Xu
- Institute of Fundamental and Frontier SciencesUniversity of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaChengdu610054P. R. China
| | - Xin Tong
- Institute of Fundamental and Frontier SciencesUniversity of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaChengdu610054P. R. China
| | - Peng Yu
- Institute of Fundamental and Frontier SciencesUniversity of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaChengdu610054P. R. China
| | - Gideon Evans Wenya
- Institute of Fundamental and Frontier SciencesUniversity of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaChengdu610054P. R. China
| | - Thomas McGrath
- Department of PhysicsLancaster UniversityLancasterLancashireLA14YWUK
| | | | - Jiang Wu
- Institute of Fundamental and Frontier SciencesUniversity of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaChengdu610054P. R. China
- Department of Electronic and Electrical EngineeringUniversity College LondonTorrington PlaceLondonWC1E7JEUK
| | - Zhiming M. Wang
- Institute of Fundamental and Frontier SciencesUniversity of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaChengdu610054P. R. China
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64
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Zhang G, Yang L, Wang X, Wu Z, Jiang J, Luo Y. Energy Materials Design for Steering Charge Kinetics. Adv Mater 2018; 30:e1801988. [PMID: 30206996 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201801988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Revised: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Charge kinetics is a critical factor that determines working efficiencies of energy materials in their various applications. It is governed by electronic structures of the materials of interest and can be fine-tuned via purposeful adjustment of electronic structures. Recent advances in the development of energy materials with desirable electronic structures to steering charge kinetics toward specific applications are highlighted here. Two key strategies are presented: one is through the tuning of energy states and the other is to control spatial distributions of charges. Each strategy is described by several different schemes. Finally, the challenges and perspectives in designing energy materials with fine control of charge kinetics are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guozhen Zhang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Li Yang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Xijun Wang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Ziye Wu
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Jun Jiang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Yi Luo
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, P. R. China
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65
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Wang L, Zhang Y, Chen L, Xu H, Xiong Y. 2D Polymers as Emerging Materials for Photocatalytic Overall Water Splitting. Adv Mater 2018; 30:e1801955. [PMID: 30033628 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201801955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2018] [Revised: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Converting solar energy into storable and transportable chemical fuels using artificial photosynthetic systems can provide an alternative route to the current unsustainable use of fossil fuels, addressing the worldwide energy crisis and environmental issues. Recently, semiconducting polymers have emerged as a very promising class of photocatalysts for water splitting as their electronic and structural properties can be conveniently controlled and systematically designed at a molecular level. Among the various polymer photocatalysts that are reported so far, 2D polymer nanosheets are particularly interesting and gaining more attention. The 2D planar structure offers unique features such as high surface area, abundant surface active sites, efficient charge separation, and facile formation of heterostructures. The design and synthesis of 2D polymer nanosheets have greatly advanced the research in photocatalytic overall water splitting. Here, recent advances in developing photocatalysts based on 2D polymer nanosheets for photocatalytic overall water splitting are highlighted. Specifically, the existing approaches to tune their electronic structures and surface active sites for photocatalysis are discussed. Future opportunities and challenges for developing 2D polymers for photocatalytic overall water splitting are also included.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Chemistry and Materials Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Chemistry and Materials Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China
| | - Liang Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Chemistry and Materials Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China
| | - Hangxun Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Chemistry and Materials Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China
| | - Yujie Xiong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Chemistry and Materials Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China
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66
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Xiao Y, Qi Y, Wang X, Wang X, Zhang F, Li C. Visible-Light-Responsive 2D Cadmium-Organic Framework Single Crystals with Dual Functions of Water Reduction and Oxidation. Adv Mater 2018; 30:e1803401. [PMID: 30295957 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201803401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2018] [Revised: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The development of new metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with dual functions of both water reduction and oxidation under visible-light irradiation is highly desirable for promising solar water splitting, but is not yet reported. Herein, a cadmium-based MOF (denoted as "Cd-TBAPy") single crystal with a 2D layered framework by employing 1,3,6,8-tetrakis(p-benzoic acid)pyrene (H4 TBAPy) as an organic linker is reported, which exhibits good visible-light absorption with edge of ≈600 nm. The Mott-Schottky (M-S) measurement and UV-vis analysis integrally reveal that the Cd-TBAPy is an n-type semiconductor with a bandgap of ≈2.15 eV whose conduction and valence band are estimated to be -0.05 and 2.10 eV, respectively. Together with loading of Pt or CoPi cocatalyst, the Cd-TBAPy is active for both water reduction and oxidation in the presence of scavengers under visible-light irradiation. Especially, the optimized apparent quantum efficiency for O2 evolution reaches 5.6% at 420 nm, much higher than that of previous MOF-based photocatalysts reported so far. This is thought to be the first MOF that functions as a photocatalyst for both water reduction and oxidation under visible light, demonstrating the intriguing future of MOF materials in solar-to-chemical energy conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yejun Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, The Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), Dalian, 116023, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19(A) Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Yu Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, The Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Xiuli Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, The Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Xiaoyu Wang
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14228, USA
| | - Fuxiang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, The Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Can Li
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, The Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), Dalian, 116023, China
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67
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Li W, Fu HC, Li L, Cabán-Acevedo M, He JH, Jin S. Integrated Photoelectrochemical Solar Energy Conversion and Organic Redox Flow Battery Devices. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2018; 55:13104-13108. [PMID: 27654317 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201606986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Building on regenerative photoelectrochemical solar cells and emerging electrochemical redox flow batteries (RFBs), more efficient, scalable, compact, and cost-effective hybrid energy conversion and storage devices could be realized. An integrated photoelectrochemical solar energy conversion and electrochemical storage device is developed by integrating regenerative silicon solar cells and 9,10-anthraquinone-2,7-disulfonic acid (AQDS)/1,2-benzoquinone-3,5-disulfonic acid (BQDS) RFBs. The device can be directly charged by solar light without external bias, and discharged like normal RFBs with an energy storage density of 1.15 Wh L-1 and a solar-to-output electricity efficiency (SOEE) of 1.7 % over many cycles. The concept exploits a previously undeveloped design connecting two major energy technologies and promises a general approach for storing solar energy electrochemically with high theoretical storage capacity and efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjie Li
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1101 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Hui-Chun Fu
- Division of Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Linsen Li
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1101 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Miguel Cabán-Acevedo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1101 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Jr-Hau He
- Division of Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Song Jin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1101 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
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68
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Zhou Y, Zhang S, Ding Y, Zhang L, Zhang C, Zhang X, Zhao Y, Yu G. Efficient Solar Energy Harvesting and Storage through a Robust Photocatalyst Driving Reversible Redox Reactions. Adv Mater 2018; 30:e1802294. [PMID: 29904958 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201802294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Revised: 05/12/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Simultaneous solar energy conversion and storage is receiving increasing interest for better utilization of the abundant yet intermittently available sunlight. Photoelectrodes driving nonspontaneous reversible redox reactions in solar-powered redox cells (SPRCs), which can deliver energy via the corresponding reverse reactions, present a cost-effective and promising approach for direct solar energy harvesting and storage. However, the lack of photoelectrodes having both high conversion efficiency and high durability becomes a bottleneck that hampers practical applications of SPRCs. Here, it is shown that a WO3 -decorated BiVO4 photoanode, without the need of extra electrocatalysts, can enable a single-photocatalyst-driven SPRC with a solar-to-output energy conversion efficiency as high as 1.25%. This SPRC presents stable performance over 20 solar energy storage/delivery cycles. The high efficiency and stability are attributed to the rapid redox reactions, the well-matched energy level, and the efficient light harvesting and charge separation of the prepared BiVO4 . This demonstrated device system represents a potential alternative toward the development of low-cost, durable, and easy-to-implement solar energy technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangen Zhou
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
- Materials Science and Engineering Program and Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Shun Zhang
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Yu Ding
- Materials Science and Engineering Program and Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Leyuan Zhang
- Materials Science and Engineering Program and Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Changkun Zhang
- Materials Science and Engineering Program and Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Xiaohong Zhang
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Yu Zhao
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Guihua Yu
- Materials Science and Engineering Program and Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
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69
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Burger A, Kunzmann A, Costa RD, Srikantharajah R, Peukert W, Guldi DM, Hirsch A. Synergy of Catechol-Functionalized Zinc Oxide Nanorods and Porphyrins in Layer-by-Layer Assemblies. Chemistry 2018; 24:7896-7905. [PMID: 29480559 DOI: 10.1002/chem.201705327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Catechol-functionalized, positively charged ZnO nanorods (NRs) and anionic porphyrins were integrated into layer-by-layer (LbL) assemblies. In general, this study focuses on the impact that different porphyrins, varying in size and number of negative charges, exert on the LbL architecture in terms of morphology and spectroscopy. In particular, through a combination of analytical methods, including UV/Vis spectroscopy, SEM, and profilometry, valuable insights into LbL assembly formation were gathered. A key feature was the surface coverage in the resulting films. Denser films and surface coverages were realized when highly negatively charged and sterically demanding porphyrins were employed. As a complement to basic characterization, the LbL assembled films were used to fabricate proof-of-concept solar cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Burger
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Straße 10, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Andreas Kunzmann
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Egerlandstaße 3, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Rubén D Costa
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Egerlandstaße 3, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Rubitha Srikantharajah
- Institute of Particle Technology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Cauerstrasse 4, 91058, Erlangen, Germany.,Center of Functional Particle Systems (FPS), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Haberstraße 9a, 91058, Erlangen, Germany)
| | - Wolfgang Peukert
- Institute of Particle Technology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Cauerstrasse 4, 91058, Erlangen, Germany.,Center of Functional Particle Systems (FPS), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Haberstraße 9a, 91058, Erlangen, Germany)
| | - Dirk M Guldi
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Egerlandstaße 3, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Andreas Hirsch
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Straße 10, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
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70
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Wang S, Chen P, Bai Y, Yun JH, Liu G, Wang L. New BiVO 4 Dual Photoanodes with Enriched Oxygen Vacancies for Efficient Solar-Driven Water Splitting. Adv Mater 2018; 30:e1800486. [PMID: 29602201 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201800486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2018] [Revised: 02/11/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Bismuth vanadate (BiVO4 ) is a promising photoanode material for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. However, owing to the short carrier diffusion length, the trade-off between sufficient light absorption and efficient charge separation often leads to poor PEC performance. Herein, a new electrodeposition process is developed to prepare bismuth oxide precursor films, which can be converted to transparent BiVO4 films with well-controlled oxygen vacancies via a mild thermal treatment process. The optimized BiVO4 film exhibits an excellent back illumination charge separation efficiency mainly due to the presence of enriched oxygen vacancies which act as shallow donors. By loading FeOOH/NiOOH as the cocatalysts, the BiVO4 dual photoanodes exhibit a remarkable and highly stable photocurrent density of 5.87 mA cm-2 at 1.23 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode under AM 1.5 G illumination. An artificial leaf composed of the BiVO4 /FeOOH/NiOOH dual photoanodes and a single sealed perovskite solar cell delivers a solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency as high as 6.5% for unbiased water splitting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songcan Wang
- Nanomaterials Centre, School of Chemical Engineering and Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Peng Chen
- Nanomaterials Centre, School of Chemical Engineering and Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Yang Bai
- Nanomaterials Centre, School of Chemical Engineering and Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Jung-Ho Yun
- Nanomaterials Centre, School of Chemical Engineering and Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Gang Liu
- Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, 110016, China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, 72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Lianzhou Wang
- Nanomaterials Centre, School of Chemical Engineering and Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, QLD, 4072, Australia
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71
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Ryu D, Kim YJ, Kim SI, Hong H, Ahn HS, Kim K, Ryu W. Thylakoid-Deposited Micro-Pillar Electrodes for Enhanced Direct Extraction of Photosynthetic Electrons. Nanomaterials (Basel) 2018; 8:E189. [PMID: 29587387 DOI: 10.3390/nano8040189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2018] [Revised: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Photosynthesis converts solar energy to electricity in a highly efficient manner. Since only water is needed as fuel for energy conversion, this highly efficient energy conversion process has been rigorously investigated. In particular, photosynthetic apparatus, such as photosystem II (PSII), photosystem I (PSI), or thylakoids, have been isolated from various plants to construct bio-hybrid anodes. Although PSII or PSI decorated anodes have shown potentials, there still remain challenges, such as poor stability of PSII-based systems or need for electron donors other than water molecules of PSI-based systems. Thylakoid membranes are relatively stable after isolation and they contain all the necessary photosynthetic apparatus including the PSII and PSI. To increase electrical connections between thylakoids and anodes, nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes, nanowires, nanoparticles, or graphene have been employed. However, since they rely on the secondary electrical connections between thylakoids and anodes; it is desired to achieve larger direct contacts between them. Here, we aimed to develop micro-pillar (MP) array anodes to maximize direct contact with thylakoids. The thylakoid morphology was analyzed and the MP array was designed to maximize direct contact with thylakoids. The performance of MP anodes and a photosynthetic fuel cell based on MP electrodes was demonstrated and analyzed.
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72
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Podjaski F, Kröger J, Lotsch BV. Toward an Aqueous Solar Battery: Direct Electrochemical Storage of Solar Energy in Carbon Nitrides. Adv Mater 2018; 30. [PMID: 29318675 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201705477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2017] [Revised: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Graphitic carbon nitrides have emerged as an earth-abundant family of polymeric materials for solar energy conversion. Herein, a 2D cyanamide-functionalized polyheptazine imide (NCN-PHI) is reported, which for the first time enables the synergistic coupling of two key functions of energy conversion within one single material: light harvesting and electrical energy storage. Photo-electrochemical measurements in aqueous electrolytes reveal the underlying mechanism of this "solar battery" material: the charge storage in NCN-PHI is based on the photoreduction of the carbon nitride backbone and charge compensation is realized by adsorption of alkali metal ions within the NCN-PHI layers and at the solution interface. The photoreduced carbon nitride can thus be described as a battery anode operating as a pseudocapacitor, which can store light-induced charge in the form of long-lived, "trapped" electrons for hours. Importantly, the potential window of this process is not limited by the water reduction reaction due to the high intrinsic overpotential of carbon nitrides for hydrogen evolution, potentially enabling new applications for aqueous batteries. Thus, the feasibility of light-induced electrical energy storage and release on demand by a one-component light-charged battery anode is demonstrated, which provides a sustainable solution to overcome the intermittency of solar radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filip Podjaski
- Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Heisenbergstraße 1, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Station 12, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Julia Kröger
- Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Heisenbergstraße 1, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
- Department of Chemistry, University of Munich (LMU), Butenandtstraße 5-13, 81377, München, Germany
| | - Bettina V Lotsch
- Department of Chemistry, University of Munich (LMU), Butenandtstraße 5-13, 81377, München, Germany
- Nanosystems Initiative Munich (NIM), Schellingstraße 4, 80799, München, Germany
- Center for Nanoscience, Schellingstraße 4, 80799, München, Germany
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73
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Yang Y, Zhao R, Zhang T, Zhao K, Xiao P, Ma Y, Ajayan PM, Shi G, Chen Y. Graphene-Based Standalone Solar Energy Converter for Water Desalination and Purification. ACS Nano 2018; 12:829-835. [PMID: 29301080 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.7b08196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Harvesting solar energy for desalination and sewage treatment has been considered as a promising solution to produce clean water. However, state-of-the-art technologies often require optical concentrators and complicated systems with multiple components, leading to poor efficiency and high cost. Here, we demonstrate an extremely simple and standalone solar energy converter consisting of only an as-prepared 3D cross-linked honeycomb graphene foam material without any other supporting components. This simple all-in-one material can act as an ideal solar thermal converter capable of capturing and converting sunlight into heat, which in turn can distill water from various water sources into steam and produce purified water under ambient conditions and low solar flux with very high efficiency. High specific water production rate of 2.6 kg h-1 m-2 g-1 was achieved with near ∼87% under 1 sun intensity and >80% efficiency even under ambient sunlight (<1 sun). This scalable sheet-like material was used to obtain pure drinkable water from both seawater and sewage water under ambient conditions. Our results demonstrate a competent monolithic material platform providing a paradigm change in water purification by using a simple, point of use, reusable, and low-cost solar thermal water purification system for a variety of environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Pulickel M Ajayan
- Department of Materials Science and Nano Engineering, Rice University , Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Gaoquan Shi
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University , Beijing 100084, China
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74
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Downes CA, Clough AJ, Chen K, Yoo JW, Marinescu SC. Evaluation of the H 2 Evolving Activity of Benzenehexathiolate Coordination Frameworks and the Effect of Film Thickness on H 2 Production. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2018; 10:1719-1727. [PMID: 29251487 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.7b15969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The design of earth-abundant catalysts for the electrochemical production of H2 from water is important for the realization of a sustainable energy future. Incorporation of molecular catalysts into extended frameworks has emerged as a viable strategy for improving catalytic performance and durability while maintaining a high degree of control over the structure and properties of the catalytic active site. Here, we investigate benzenehexathiolate (BHT) coordination frameworks as electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in pH 1.3 aqueous solutions. The electrocatalytic HER activity of BHT-based coordination frameworks follows the order of CoBHT > NiBHT > FeBHT. CoBHT operates at an overpotential of 185 mV, the lowest observed overpotential of the reported metal dithiolene-based metal organic frameworks and coordination polymers to date. To further understand the properties that dictate electrocatalytic activity, the effect of film thickness on the HER performance of CoBHT, a parameter that has not been extensively explored for electrocatalytic coordination frameworks, was examined. As the thickness was increased to ∼1 μm, charge and proton transfer through CoBHT was hindered, the number of electrochemically accessible active sites decreased, and the mechanical robustness of the modified electrode was diminished. The observed thickness-dependent HER activity of CoBHT highlights the importance of practical electrode construction and offers insight into how to optimize proton and electron transfer properties and active site densities within coordination frameworks without reducing the mechanical robustness of the immobilized catalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney A Downes
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
| | - Andrew J Clough
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
| | - Keying Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
| | - Joseph W Yoo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
| | - Smaranda C Marinescu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
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75
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Zhang B, Jie J, Zhang X, Ou X, Zhang X. Large-Scale Fabrication of Silicon Nanowires for Solar Energy Applications. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2017; 9:34527-34543. [PMID: 28921947 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.7b06620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The development of silicon (Si) materials during past decades has boosted up the prosperity of the modern semiconductor industry. In comparison with the bulk-Si materials, Si nanowires (SiNWs) possess superior structural, optical, and electrical properties and have attracted increasing attention in solar energy applications. To achieve the practical applications of SiNWs, both large-scale synthesis of SiNWs at low cost and rational design of energy conversion devices with high efficiency are the prerequisite. This review focuses on the recent progresses in large-scale production of SiNWs, as well as the construction of high-efficiency SiNW-based solar energy conversion devices, including photovoltaic devices and photo-electrochemical cells. Finally, the outlook and challenges in this emerging field are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingchang Zhang
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University , Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiansheng Jie
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University , Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiujuan Zhang
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University , Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuemei Ou
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University , Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaohong Zhang
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University , Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, People's Republic of China
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76
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Wada K, Ranasinghe CSK, Kuriki R, Yamakata A, Ishitani O, Maeda K. Interfacial Manipulation by Rutile TiO 2 Nanoparticles to Boost CO 2 Reduction into CO on a Metal-Complex/Semiconductor Hybrid Photocatalyst. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2017; 9:23869-23877. [PMID: 28654233 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.7b07484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Metal-complex/semiconductor hybrids have attracted attention as photocatalysts for visible-light CO2 reduction, and electron transfer from the metal complex to the semiconductor is critically important to improve the performance. Here rutile TiO2 nanoparticles having 5-10 nm in size were employed as modifiers to improve interfacial charge transfer between semiconducting carbon nitride nanosheets (NS-C3N4) and a supramolecular Ru(II)-Re(I) binuclear complex (RuRe). The RuRe/TiO2/NS-C3N4 hybrid was capable of photocatalyzing CO2 reduction into CO with high selectivity under visible light (λ > 400 nm), outperforming an analogue without TiO2 by a factor of 4, in terms of both CO formation rate and turnover number (TON). The enhanced photocatalytic activity was attributed primarily to prolonged lifetime of free and/or shallowly trapped electrons generated in TiO2/NS-C3N4 under visible-light irradiation, as revealed by transient absorption spectroscopy. Experimental results also indicated that the TiO2 modifier served as a good adsorption site for RuRe, which resulted in the suppression of undesirable desorption of the complex, thereby contributing to the improved photocatalytic performance. This study presents the first successful example of interfacial manipulation in a metal-complex/semiconductor hybrid photocatalyst for improved visible-light CO2 reduction to produce CO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keisuke Wada
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology , 2-12-1-NE-2 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | | | - Ryo Kuriki
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology , 2-12-1-NE-2 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science , Kojimachi Business Center Building, 5-3-1, Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0083, Japan
| | - Akira Yamakata
- Graduate School of Engineering, Toyota Technological Institute , 2-12-1 Hisakata, Tempaku, Nagoya 468-8511, Japan
| | - Osamu Ishitani
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology , 2-12-1-NE-2 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Maeda
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology , 2-12-1-NE-2 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
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77
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Cheng Q, Fan W, He Y, Ma P, Vanka S, Fan S, Mi Z, Wang D. Photorechargeable High Voltage Redox Battery Enabled by Ta 3 N 5 and GaN/Si Dual-Photoelectrode. Adv Mater 2017; 29:1700312. [PMID: 28464392 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201700312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2017] [Revised: 03/02/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Solar rechargeable battery combines the advantages of photoelectrochemical devices and batteries and has emerged as an attractive alternative to artificial photosynthesis for large-scale solar energy harvesting and storage. Due to the low photovoltages by the photoelectrodes, however, most previous demonstrations of unassisted photocharge have been realized on systems with low open circuit potentials (<0.8 V). In response to this critical challenge, here it is shown that the combined photovoltages exceeding 1.4 V can be obtained using a Ta3 N5 nanotube photoanode and a GaN nanowire/Si photocathode with high photocurrents (>5 mA cm-2 ). The photoelectrode system makes it possible to operate a 1.2 V alkaline anthraquinone/ferrocyanide redox battery with a high ideal solar-to-chemical conversion efficiency of 3.0% without externally applied potentials. Importantly, the photocharged battery is successfully discharged with a high voltage output.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingmei Cheng
- Department of Chemistry, Merkert Chemistry Center, Boston College, 2609 Beacon Street, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467, USA
| | - Weiqiang Fan
- Department of Chemistry, Merkert Chemistry Center, Boston College, 2609 Beacon Street, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467, USA
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, China
| | - Yumin He
- Department of Chemistry, Merkert Chemistry Center, Boston College, 2609 Beacon Street, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467, USA
| | - Peiyan Ma
- Department of Chemistry, Merkert Chemistry Center, Boston College, 2609 Beacon Street, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467, USA
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Life Science, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
| | - Srinivas Vanka
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McGill University, 3480 University Street, Montreal, QC, H3A 0E9, Canada
| | - Shizhao Fan
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McGill University, 3480 University Street, Montreal, QC, H3A 0E9, Canada
| | - Zetian Mi
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McGill University, 3480 University Street, Montreal, QC, H3A 0E9, Canada
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, 1301 Beal Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Dunwei Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Merkert Chemistry Center, Boston College, 2609 Beacon Street, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467, USA
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Nganou C, Lackner G, Teschome B, Deen MJ, Adir N, Pouhe D, Lupascu DC, Mkandawire M. Energy Transfer Kinetics in Photosynthesis as an Inspiration for Improving Organic Solar Cells. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2017; 9:19030-19039. [PMID: 28497947 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.7b04028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Clues to designing highly efficient organic solar cells may lie in understanding the architecture of light-harvesting systems and exciton energy transfer (EET) processes in very efficient photosynthetic organisms. Here, we compare the kinetics of excitation energy tunnelling from the intact phycobilisome (PBS) light-harvesting antenna system to the reaction center in photosystem II in intact cells of the cyanobacterium Acaryochloris marina with the charge transfer after conversion of photons into photocurrent in vertically aligned carbon nanotube (va-CNT) organic solar cells with poly(3-hexyl)thiophene (P3HT) as the pigment. We find that the kinetics in electron hole creation following excitation at 600 nm in both PBS and va-CNT solar cells to be 450 and 500 fs, respectively. The EET process has a 3 and 14 ps pathway in the PBS, while in va-CNT solar cell devices, the charge trapping in the CNT takes 11 and 258 ps. We show that the main hindrance to efficiency of va-CNT organic solar cells is the slow migration of the charges after exciton formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Collins Nganou
- Verschuren Centre for Sustainability in Energy and the Environment, Cape Breton University , 1250 Grand Lake Road, Sydney, Nova Scotia B1P 6L2, Canada
| | - Gerhard Lackner
- Institute for Materials Science, University of Duisburg-Essen and Centre for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CeNIDE) , Essen 45141, Germany
| | - Bezu Teschome
- Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf , 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - M Jamal Deen
- Electrical and Computer Engineering, McMaster University , 1280 Main Street, West Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Noam Adir
- Schulich Faculty of Chemistry, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology , Haifa, 32000 Israel
| | - David Pouhe
- Reutlingen University of Applied Sciences , Alteburgstrase 150, 72762 Reutlingen, Germany
| | - Doru C Lupascu
- Institute for Materials Science, University of Duisburg-Essen and Centre for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CeNIDE) , Essen 45141, Germany
| | - Martin Mkandawire
- Verschuren Centre for Sustainability in Energy and the Environment, Cape Breton University , 1250 Grand Lake Road, Sydney, Nova Scotia B1P 6L2, Canada
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Abstract
We derive four laws relating the absorptivity and emissivity of thermal emitters. Unlike the original Kirchhoff radiation law derivations, these derivations include diffraction, and so are valid also for small objects, and can also cover nonreciprocal objects. The proofs exploit two recent approaches. First, we express all fields in terms of the mode-converter basis sets of beams; these sets, which can be uniquely established for any linear optical object, give orthogonal input beams that are coupled one-by-one to orthogonal output beams. Second, we consider thought experiments using universal linear optical machines, which allow us to couple appropriate beams and black bodies. Two of these laws can be regarded as rigorous extensions of previously known laws: One gives a modal version of a radiation law for reciprocal objects-the absorptivity of any input beam equals the emissivity into the "backward" (i.e., phase-conjugated) version of that beam; another gives the overall equality of the sums of the emissivities and the absorptivities for any object, including nonreciprocal ones. The other two laws, valid for reciprocal and nonreciprocal objects, are quite different from previous relations. One shows universal equivalence of the absorptivity of each mode-converter input beam and the emissivity into its corresponding scattered output beam. The other gives unexpected equivalences of absorptivity and emissivity for broad classes of beams. Additionally, we prove these orthogonal mode-converter sets of input and output beams are the ones that maximize absorptivities and emissivities, respectively, giving these beams surprising additional physical meaning.
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80
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Zhuang TT, Liu Y, Li Y, Sun M, Sun ZJ, Du PW, Jiang J, Yu SH. 1D Colloidal Hetero-Nanomaterials with Programmed Semiconductor Morphology and Metal Location for Enhancing Solar Energy Conversion. Small 2017; 13:1602629. [PMID: 28134465 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201602629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Revised: 11/18/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
A new kind of multitetrahedron sheath ternary ZnS-(CdS/Au) hetero-nanorod is prepared, in which one 1D ultrathin ZnS nanorod is integrated with segmented tetrahedron sheaths made of CdS, and more importantly, Au nanoparticles can be decorated in a targeted manner onto the vertexes and edges of CdS tetrahedron sheaths solely, for achieving performance improvement in photoelectric and photochemical conversion applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao-Tao Zhuang
- Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Yan Liu
- Department of Chemical Physics, Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Yi Li
- Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Meng Sun
- Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Zi-Jun Sun
- Department of Chemical Physics, Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Ping-Wu Du
- Department of Chemical Physics, Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Jun Jiang
- Department of Chemical Physics, Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Shu-Hong Yu
- Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China
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81
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Maeda K, Ishimaki K, Okazaki M, Kanazawa T, Lu D, Nozawa S, Kato H, Kakihana M. Cobalt Oxide Nanoclusters on Rutile Titania as Bifunctional Units for Water Oxidation Catalysis and Visible Light Absorption: Understanding the Structure-Activity Relationship. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2017; 9:6114-6122. [PMID: 28117578 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.6b15804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The structure of cobalt oxide (CoOx) nanoparticles dispersed on rutile TiO2 (R-TiO2) was characterized by X-ray diffraction, UV-vis-NIR diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray absorption fine-structure spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The CoOx nanoparticles were loaded onto R-TiO2 by an impregnation method from an aqueous solution containing Co(NO3)2·6H2O followed by heating in air. Modification of the R-TiO2 with 2.0 wt % Co followed by heating at 423 K for 1 h resulted in the highest photocatalytic activity with good reproducibility. Structural analyses revealed that the activity of this photocatalyst depended strongly on the generation of Co3O4 nanoclusters with an optimal distribution. These nanoclusters are thought to interact with the R-TiO2 surface, resulting in visible light absorption and active sites for water oxidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhiko Maeda
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology , 2-12-1-NE-2 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Koki Ishimaki
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology , 2-12-1-NE-2 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Megumi Okazaki
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology , 2-12-1-NE-2 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Tomoki Kanazawa
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology , 2-12-1-NE-2 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Daling Lu
- Suzukakedai Materials Analysis Division, Technical Department, Tokyo Institute of Technology , 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8503, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Nozawa
- Institute of Materials Structure Science, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization , 1-1 Oho, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0801, Japan
| | - Hideki Kato
- Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University , 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
| | - Masato Kakihana
- Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University , 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
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82
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Novakowski TJ, Tripathi JK, Hassanein A. Nb 2O 5 Nanostructure Evolution on Nb Surfaces via Low-Energy He + Ion Irradiation. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2016; 8:34896-34903. [PMID: 27998103 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.6b12502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
We propose low-energy, broad-beam He+ ion irradiation as a novel processing technique for the generation of Nb2O5 surface nanostructures due to its relative simplicity and scalability in a commercial setting. Since there have been relatively few studies involving the interaction of high-fluence, low-energy He+ ion irradiation and Nb (or its oxidized states), this systematic study explores both effects of fluence and sample temperature during irradiation on resulting surface morphology. Detailed normal and cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies reveal subsurface He bubble formation and elucidate potential driving mechanisms for nanostructure evolution. A combination of specular optical reflectivity and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is also used to gain additional information on roughness and stoichiometry of irradiated surfaces. Our investigations show significant surface modification for all tested irradiation conditions; the resulting surface structure size and geometry have a strong dependence on both sample temperature during irradiation and total ion fluence. Optical reflectivity measurements on irradiated surfaces demonstrate increased surface roughening with increasing ion fluence, and XPS shows higher oxidation levels for samples irradiated at lower temperatures, suggesting larger surface roughness and porosity. Overall, it was found that low-energy He+ ion irradiation is an efficient processing technique for nanostructure formation, and surface structures are highly tunable by adjusting ion fluence and Nb2O5 sample temperature during irradiation. These findings may have excellent potential applications for solar energy conversion through improved efficiency due to effective light absorption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodore Joseph Novakowski
- Center for Materials Under eXtreme Environment (CMUXE), School of Nuclear Engineering, Purdue University , West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Jitendra Kumar Tripathi
- Center for Materials Under eXtreme Environment (CMUXE), School of Nuclear Engineering, Purdue University , West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Ahmed Hassanein
- Center for Materials Under eXtreme Environment (CMUXE), School of Nuclear Engineering, Purdue University , West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
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83
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Xu HM, Wang H, Shi J, Lin Y, Nan C. Photoelectrochemical Performance Observed in Mn-Doped BiFeO₃ Heterostructured Thin Films. Nanomaterials (Basel) 2016; 6:nano6110215. [PMID: 28335343 PMCID: PMC5245757 DOI: 10.3390/nano6110215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2016] [Revised: 11/08/2016] [Accepted: 11/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Pure BiFeO3 and heterostructured BiFeO3/BiFe0.95Mn0.05O3 (5% Mn-doped BiFeO3) thin films have been prepared by a chemical deposition method. The band structures and photosensitive properties of these films have been investigated elaborately. Pure BiFeO3 films showed stable and strong response to photo illumination (open circuit potential kept −0.18 V, short circuit photocurrent density was −0.023 mA·cm−2). By Mn doping, the energy band positions shifted, resulting in a smaller band gap of BiFe0.95Mn0.05O3 layer and an internal field being built in the BiFeO3/BiFe0.95Mn0.05O3 interface. BiFeO3/BiFe0.95Mn0.05O3 and BiFe0.95Mn0.05O3 thin films demonstrated poor photo activity compared with pure BiFeO3 films, which can be explained by the fact that Mn doping brought in a large amount of defects in the BiFe0.95Mn0.05O3 layers, causing higher carrier combination and correspondingly suppressing the photo response, and this negative influence was more considerable than the positive effects provided by the band modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Min Xu
- State Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Huanchun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
- High-Tech Institute of Xi'an, Xi'an 780025, China.
| | - Ji Shi
- Department of Metallurgy and Ceramics Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1, Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan
| | - Yuanhua Lin
- State Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Cewen Nan
- State Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
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84
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Kim IS, Haasch RT, Cao DH, Farha OK, Hupp JT, Kanatzidis MG, Martinson ABF. Amorphous TiO2 Compact Layers via ALD for Planar Halide Perovskite Photovoltaics. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2016; 8:24310-24314. [PMID: 27598453 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.6b07658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
A low-temperature (<120 °C) route to pinhole-free amorphous TiO2 compact layers may pave the way to more efficient, flexible, and stable inverted perovskite halide device designs. Toward this end, we utilize low-temperature thermal atomic layer deposition (ALD) to synthesize ultrathin (12 nm) compact TiO2 underlayers for planar halide perovskite PV. Although device performance with as-deposited TiO2 films is poor, we identify room-temperature UV-O3 treatment as a route to device efficiency comparable to crystalline TiO2 thin films synthesized by higher temperature methods. We further explore the chemical, physical, and interfacial properties that might explain the improved performance through X-ray diffraction, spectroscopic ellipsometry, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. These findings challenge our intuition about effective electron selective layers as well as point the way to a greater selection of flexible substrates and more stable inverted device designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- In Soo Kim
- Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory , 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
- Argonne-Northwestern Solar Energy Research (ANSER) Center , 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Richard T Haasch
- Frederick Seitz Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Duyen H Cao
- Argonne-Northwestern Solar Energy Research (ANSER) Center , 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University , 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Omar K Farha
- Argonne-Northwestern Solar Energy Research (ANSER) Center , 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University , 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Joseph T Hupp
- Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory , 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
- Argonne-Northwestern Solar Energy Research (ANSER) Center , 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University , 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Mercouri G Kanatzidis
- Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory , 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
- Argonne-Northwestern Solar Energy Research (ANSER) Center , 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University , 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Alex B F Martinson
- Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory , 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
- Argonne-Northwestern Solar Energy Research (ANSER) Center , 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
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85
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Meng X, Liu L, Ouyang S, Xu H, Wang D, Zhao N, Ye J. Nanometals for Solar-to-Chemical Energy Conversion: From Semiconductor-Based Photocatalysis to Plasmon-Mediated Photocatalysis and Photo-Thermocatalysis. Adv Mater 2016; 28:6781-803. [PMID: 27185493 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201600305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 225] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2016] [Revised: 02/28/2016] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Nanometal materials play very important roles in solar-to-chemical energy conversion due to their unique catalytic and optical characteristics. They have found wide applications from semiconductor photocatalysis to rapidly growing surface plasmon-mediated heterogeneous catalysis. The recent research achievements of nanometals are reviewed here, with regard to applications in semiconductor photocatalysis, plasmonic photocatalysis, and plasmonic photo-thermocatalysis. As the first important topic discussed here, the latest progress in the design of nanometal cocatalysts and their applications in semiconductor photocatalysis are introduced. Then, plasmonic photocatalysis and plasmonic photo-thermocatalysis are discussed. A better understanding of electron-driven and temperature-driven catalytic behaviors over plasmonic nanometals is helpful to bridge the present gap between the communities of photocatalysis and conventional catalysis controlled by temperature. The objective here is to provide instructive information on how to take the advantages of the unique functions of nanometals in different types of catalytic processes to improve the efficiency of solar-energy utilization for more practical artificial photosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianguang Meng
- TU-NIMS Joint Research Center, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Tianjin, 300072, P. R. China
- International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (WPI-MANA) and Environmental Remediation Materials Unit, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0044, Japan
- Graduate School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0814, Japan
| | - Lequan Liu
- TU-NIMS Joint Research Center, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Tianjin, 300072, P. R. China
- Tianjin Key Lab Composite and Functional Materials, Key Lab of Advanced Ceramics and Machining Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, P. R. China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin, 300072, P. R. China
| | - Shuxin Ouyang
- TU-NIMS Joint Research Center, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Tianjin, 300072, P. R. China
- Tianjin Key Lab Composite and Functional Materials, Key Lab of Advanced Ceramics and Machining Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, P. R. China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin, 300072, P. R. China
| | - Hua Xu
- TU-NIMS Joint Research Center, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Tianjin, 300072, P. R. China
- Tianjin Key Lab Composite and Functional Materials, Key Lab of Advanced Ceramics and Machining Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, P. R. China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin, 300072, P. R. China
| | - Defa Wang
- TU-NIMS Joint Research Center, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Tianjin, 300072, P. R. China
- Tianjin Key Lab Composite and Functional Materials, Key Lab of Advanced Ceramics and Machining Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, P. R. China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin, 300072, P. R. China
| | - Naiqin Zhao
- Tianjin Key Lab Composite and Functional Materials, Key Lab of Advanced Ceramics and Machining Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, P. R. China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin, 300072, P. R. China
| | - Jinhua Ye
- TU-NIMS Joint Research Center, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Tianjin, 300072, P. R. China
- International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (WPI-MANA) and Environmental Remediation Materials Unit, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0044, Japan
- Graduate School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0814, Japan
- Tianjin Key Lab Composite and Functional Materials, Key Lab of Advanced Ceramics and Machining Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, P. R. China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin, 300072, P. R. China
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86
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Nielander AC, Thompson AC, Roske CW, Maslyn JA, Hao Y, Plymale NT, Hone J, Lewis NS. Lightly Fluorinated Graphene as a Protective Layer for n-Type Si(111) Photoanodes in Aqueous Electrolytes. Nano Lett 2016; 16:4082-4086. [PMID: 27322181 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.6b00773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The behavior of n-Si(111) photoanodes covered by monolayer sheets of fluorinated graphene (F-Gr) was investigated under a range of chemical and electrochemical conditions. The electrochemical behavior of n-Si/F-Gr and np(+)-Si/F-Gr photoanodes was compared to hydride-terminated n-Si (n-Si-H) and np(+)-Si-H electrodes in contact with aqueous Fe(CN)6(3-/4-) and Br2/HBr electrolytes as well as in contact with a series of outer-sphere, one-electron redox couples in nonaqueous electrolytes. Illuminated n-Si/F-Gr and np(+)-Si/F-Gr electrodes in contact with an aqueous K3(Fe(CN)6/K4(Fe(CN)6 solutions exhibited stable short-circuit photocurrent densities of ∼10 mA cm(-2) for 100,000 s (>24 h), in comparison to bare Si electrodes, which yielded nearly a complete photocurrent decay over ∼100 s. X-ray photoelectron spectra collected before and after exposure to aqueous anodic conditions showed that oxide formation at the Si surface was significantly inhibited for Si electrodes coated with F-Gr relative to bare Si electrodes exposed to the same conditions. The variation of the open-circuit potential for n-Si/F-Gr in contact with a series of nonaqueous electrolytes of varying reduction potential indicated that the n-Si/F-Gr did not form a buried junction with respect to the solution contact. Further, illuminated n-Si/F-Gr electrodes in contact with Br2/HBr(aq) were significantly more electrochemically stable than n-Si-H electrodes, and n-Si/F-Gr electrodes coupled to a Pt catalyst exhibited ideal regenerative cell efficiencies of up to 5% for the oxidation of Br(-) to Br2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam C Nielander
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology , Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Annelise C Thompson
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology , Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Christopher W Roske
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology , Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Jacqueline A Maslyn
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology , Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Yufeng Hao
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University , New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Noah T Plymale
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology , Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - James Hone
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University , New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Nathan S Lewis
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology , Pasadena, California 91125, United States
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87
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Pathak P, Israel LH, Pereira EJM, Subramanian VR. Effects of Carbon Allotrope Interface on the Photoactivity of Rutile One-Dimensional (1D) TiO2 Coated with Anatase TiO2 and Sensitized with CdS Nanocrystals. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2016; 8:13400-13409. [PMID: 27121182 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.6b01854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The assembly of a large-bandgap one-dimensional (1D) oxide-conductive carbon-chalcogenide nanocomposite and its surface, optical, and photoelectrochemical properties are presented. Microscopy, surface analysis, and optical spectroscopy results are reported to provide insights into the assembly of the nanostructure. We have investigated (i) how the various carbon allotropes (C60), reduced graphene oxide (RGO), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and graphene quantum dots (GQDs) can be integrated at the interface of the 1D TiO2 and zero-dimensional (0D) CdS nanocrystals; (ii) the carbon allotrope and CdS loading effects; (iii) the impact of the carbon allotrope presence on 0D CdS nanocrystals; and (iv) how they promote light absorbance. Subsequently, the functioning of the integrated nanostructured assembly in a photoelectrochemical cell has been systematically investigated. These studies include (i) chronoamperometry, (ii) impedance measurements or EIS, and (iii) linear sweep voltammetry. The results indicate that the presence of a GQD interface shows the most enhancement in the photoelectrochemical properties. The optimized photocurrent values were respectively noted to be 2.8, 2.2, 1.9, and 1.6 mA/cm(2), indicating JGQD > JRGO > JCNT > Jfullerene. Furthermore, the annealing conditions have indicated that ammonia treatment leads to an increase in the photoelectrochemical responses when using any form of the carbon allotropes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pawan Pathak
- Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Nevada , Reno, Nevada 89557, United States
| | - Luis Henrique Israel
- Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Nevada , Reno, Nevada 89557, United States
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88
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Umezawa N, Janotti A. Controlling the Electronic Structures of Perovskite Oxynitrides and their Solid Solutions for Photocatalysis. ChemSusChem 2016; 9:1027-1031. [PMID: 27072042 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.201600040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Band-gap engineering of oxide materials is of great interest for optoelectronics, photovoltaics, and photocatalysis applications. In this study, electronic structures of perovskite oxynitrides, LaTiO2 N and SrNbO2 N, and solid solutions, (SrTiO3 )1-x (LaTiO2 N)x and (SrTiO3 )1-x (SrNbO2 N)x , are investigated using hybrid density functional calculations. Band gaps of LaTiO2 N and SrNbO2 N are much smaller than that of SrTiO3 owing to the formation of a N 2p band, which is higher in energy than the O 2p band. The valence- and conduction-band offsets of SrTiO3 /LaTiO2 N and SrTiO3 /SrNbO2 N are computed, and the adequacy for H2 evolution is analyzed by comparing the positions of the band edges with respect to the standard hydrogen electrode (SHE). The band gap of (SrTiO3 )1-x (LaTiO2 N)x and (SrTiO3 )1-x (SrNbO2 N)x solid solutions are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoto Umezawa
- Environmental Remediation Materials Unit, National Institute for Materials Science, Ibaraki, 305-0044, Japan.
| | - Anderson Janotti
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
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89
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Milan R, Hassan M, Selopal GS, Borgese L, Natile MM, Depero LE, Sberveglieri G, Concina I. A Player Often Neglected: Electrochemical Comprehensive Analysis of Counter Electrodes for Quantum Dot Solar Cells. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2016; 8:7766-7776. [PMID: 26955853 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5b11508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The role played by the counter electrode (CE) in quantum dot sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) is crucial: it is indeed responsible for catalyzing the regeneration of the redox electrolyte after its action to take back the oxidized light harvesters to the ground state, thus keeping the device active and stable. The activity of CE is moreover directly related to the fill factor and short circuit current through the resistance of the interface electrode-electrolyte that affects the series resistance of the cell. Despite that, too few efforts have been devoted to a comprehensive analysis of this important device component. In this work we combine an extensive electrochemical characterization of the most common materials exploited as CEs in QDSSCs (namely, Pt, Au, Cu2S obtained by brass treatment, and Cu2S deposited on conducting glass via spray) with a detailed characterization of their surface composition and morphology, aimed at systematically defining the relationship between their nature and electrocatalytic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Milan
- Department of Information Engineering, University of Brescia , Via Valotti 9, 25131 Brescia, Italy
- SENSOR Laboratory, CNR-INO , Via Branze 45, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Mehwish Hassan
- Chemistry for Technologies Laboratory Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Industriale, INSTM and University of Brescia , Via Branze 38, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Gurpreet Singh Selopal
- Department of Information Engineering, University of Brescia , Via Valotti 9, 25131 Brescia, Italy
- SENSOR Laboratory, CNR-INO , Via Branze 45, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Laura Borgese
- Chemistry for Technologies Laboratory Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Industriale, INSTM and University of Brescia , Via Branze 38, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Marta Maria Natile
- Istituto per l'Energetica e le Interfasi, Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, CNR and Università di Padova , Via Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Laura E Depero
- Chemistry for Technologies Laboratory Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Industriale, INSTM and University of Brescia , Via Branze 38, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Giorgio Sberveglieri
- Department of Information Engineering, University of Brescia , Via Valotti 9, 25131 Brescia, Italy
- SENSOR Laboratory, CNR-INO , Via Branze 45, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Isabella Concina
- Department of Information Engineering, University of Brescia , Via Valotti 9, 25131 Brescia, Italy
- SENSOR Laboratory, CNR-INO , Via Branze 45, 25123 Brescia, Italy
- Luleå University of Technology , 971 98 Luleå, Sweden
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90
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Loiudice A, Ma J, Drisdell WS, Mattox TM, Cooper JK, Thao T, Giannini C, Yano J, Wang LW, Sharp ID, Buonsanti R. Bandgap Tunability in Sb-Alloyed BiVO₄ Quaternary Oxides as Visible Light Absorbers for Solar Fuel Applications. Adv Mater 2015; 27:6733-6740. [PMID: 26414483 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201502361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2015] [Revised: 06/30/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The challenge of fine compositional tuning and microstructure control in complex oxides is overcome by developing a general two-step synthetic approach. Antimony-alloyed bismuth vanadate, which is identified as a novel light absorber for solar fuel applications, is prepared in a wide compositional range. The bandgap of this quaternary oxide linearly decreases with the Sb content, in agreement with first-principles calculations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Loiudice
- Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Jie Ma
- Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Walter S Drisdell
- Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Tracy M Mattox
- The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Jason K Cooper
- Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Timothy Thao
- Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Cinzia Giannini
- Institute of Crystallography, National Research Council, v. Amendola 122/O, Bari, 70126, Italy
| | - Junko Yano
- Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Lin-Wang Wang
- Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Ian D Sharp
- Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Raffaella Buonsanti
- Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
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91
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Zheng B, Sabatini RP, Fu WF, Eum MS, Brennessel WW, Wang L, McCamant DW, Eisenberg R. Light-driven generation of hydrogen: New chromophore dyads for increased activity based on Bodipy dye and Pt(diimine)(dithiolate) complexes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:E3987-96. [PMID: 26116625 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1509310112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
New dyads consisting of a strongly absorbing Bodipy (dipyrromethene-BF2) dye and a platinum diimine dithiolate (PtN2S2) charge transfer (CT) chromophore have been synthesized and studied in the context of the light-driven generation of H2 from aqueous protons. In these dyads, the Bodipy dye is bonded directly to the benzenedithiolate ligand of the PtN2S2 CT chromophore. Each of the new dyads contains either a bipyridine (bpy) or phenanthroline (phen) diimine with an attached functional group that is used for binding directly to TiO2 nanoparticles, allowing rapid electron photoinjection into the semiconductor. The absorption spectra and cyclic voltammograms of the dyads show that the spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of the dyads are the sum of the individual chromophores (Bodipy and the PtN2S2 moieties), indicating little electronic coupling between them. Connection to TiO2 nanoparticles is carried out by sonication leading to in situ attachment to TiO2 without prior hydrolysis of the ester linking groups to acids. For H2 generation studies, the TiO2 particles are platinized (Pt-TiO2) so that the light absorber (the dyad), the electron conduit (TiO2), and the catalyst (attached colloidal Pt) are fully integrated. It is found that upon 530 nm irradiation in a H2O solution (pH 4) with ascorbic acid as an electron donor, the dyad linked to Pt-TiO2 via a phosphonate or carboxylate attachment shows excellent light-driven H2 production with substantial longevity, in which one particular dyad [4(bpyP)] exhibits the highest activity, generating ∼ 40,000 turnover numbers of H2 over 12 d (with respect to dye).
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92
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Gizzie EA, LeBlanc G, Jennings GK, Cliffel DE. Electrochemical preparation of Photosystem I-polyaniline composite films for biohybrid solar energy conversion. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2015; 7:9328-35. [PMID: 25897977 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5b01065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
In this work, we report for the first time the entrapment of the biomolecular supercomplex Photosystem I (PSI) within a conductive polymer network of polyaniline via electrochemical copolymerization. Composite polymer-protein films were prepared on gold electrodes through potentiostatic electropolymerization from a single aqueous solution containing both aniline and PSI. This study demonstrates the controllable integration of large membrane proteins into rapidly prepared composite films, the entrapment of such proteins was observed through photoelectrochemical analysis. PSI's unique function as a highly efficient biomolecular photodiode generated a significant enhancement in photocurrent generation for the PSI-loaded polyaniline films, compared to pristine polyaniline films, and dropcast PSI films. A comprehensive study was then performed to separately evaluate film thickness and PSI concentration in the initial polymerization solution and their effects on the net photocurrent of this novel material. The best performing composite films were prepared with 0.1 μM PSI in the polymerization solution and deposited to a film thickness of 185 nm, resulting in an average photocurrent density of 5.7 μA cm(-2) with an efficiency of 0.005%. This photocurrent output represents an enhancement greater than 2-fold over bare polyaniline films and 200-fold over a traditional PSI multilayer film of comparable thickness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan A Gizzie
- †Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235-1822, United States
| | - Gabriel LeBlanc
- †Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235-1822, United States
| | - G Kane Jennings
- ‡Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235-1604, United States
| | - David E Cliffel
- †Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235-1822, United States
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93
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Wang X, Liow C, Bisht A, Liu X, Sum TC, Chen X, Li S. Engineering interfacial photo-induced charge transfer based on nanobamboo array architecture for efficient solar-to-chemical energy conversion. Adv Mater 2015; 27:2207-2214. [PMID: 25704499 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201405674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2014] [Revised: 01/20/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Engineering interfacial photo-induced charge transfer for highly synergistic photocatalysis is successfully realized based on nanobamboo array architecture. Programmable assemblies of various components and heterogeneous interfaces, and, in turn, engineering of the energy band structure along the charge transport pathways, play a critical role in generating excellent synergistic effects of multiple components for promoting photocatalytic efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaotian Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
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94
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Kato T, Hakari Y, Ikeda S, Jia Q, Iwase A, Kudo A. Utilization of Metal Sulfide Material of (CuGa)(1-x)Zn(2x)S2 Solid Solution with Visible Light Response in Photocatalytic and Photoelectrochemical Solar Water Splitting Systems. J Phys Chem Lett 2015; 6:1042-1047. [PMID: 26262867 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.5b00137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Upon forming a solid solution between CuGaS2 and ZnS, we have successfully developed a highly active (CuGa)(1-x)Zn(2x)S2 photocatalyst for H2 evolution in the presence of sacrificial reagents under visible light irradiation. The Ru-loaded (CuGa)0.8Zn0.4S2 functioned as a H2-evolving photocatalyst in a Z-scheme system with BiVO4 of an O2-evolving photocatalyst and Co complexes of an electron mediator. The Z-scheme system split water into H2 and O2 under visible light and simulated sunlight irradiation. The (CuGa)(1-x)Zn(2x)S2 possessed a p-type semiconductor character. The photoelectrochemical cell with a Ru-loaded (CuGa)0.5ZnS2 photocathode and a CoO(x)-modified BiVO4 photoanode split water even without applying an external bias. Thus, we successfully demonstrated that the metal sulfide material group can be available for Z-scheme and electrochemical systems to achieve solar water splitting into H2 and O2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takaaki Kato
- †Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Tokyo University of Science, 1-3 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8601, Japan
| | - Yuichiro Hakari
- †Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Tokyo University of Science, 1-3 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8601, Japan
| | - Satoru Ikeda
- †Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Tokyo University of Science, 1-3 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8601, Japan
| | - Qingxin Jia
- †Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Tokyo University of Science, 1-3 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8601, Japan
| | - Akihide Iwase
- †Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Tokyo University of Science, 1-3 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8601, Japan
- ‡Photocatalysis International Research Center, Research Institute for Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Noda-shi, Yamazaki, Chiba-ken 278-8510, Japan
| | - Akihiko Kudo
- †Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Tokyo University of Science, 1-3 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8601, Japan
- ‡Photocatalysis International Research Center, Research Institute for Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Noda-shi, Yamazaki, Chiba-ken 278-8510, Japan
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95
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Abstract
Singlet fission, the splitting of a singlet exciton into two triplet excitons in molecular materials, is interesting not only as a model many-electron problem, but also as a process with potential applications in solar energy conversion. Here we discuss limitations of the conventional four-electron and molecular dimer model in describing singlet fission in crystalline organic semiconductors, such as pentacene and tetracene. We emphasize the need to consider electronic delocalization, which is responsible for the decisive role played by the Mott-Wannier exciton, also called the charge transfer (CT) exciton, in mediating singlet fission. At the strong electronic coupling limit, the initial excitation creates a quantum superposition of singlet, CT, and triplet-pair states, and we present experimental evidence for this interpretation. We also discuss the most recent attempts at translating this mechanistic understanding into design principles for CT state-mediated intramolecular singlet fission in oligomers and polymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Monahan
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027;
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96
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Chen YC, Liu TC, Hsu YJ. ZnSe·0.5N2H4 hybrid nanostructures: a promising alternative photocatalyst for solar conversion. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2015; 7:1616-23. [PMID: 25541641 DOI: 10.1021/am507085u] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
As the molecular precursor of ZnSe, ZnSe·0.5N2H4 inorganic-organic hybrids have received relatively less attention due to the feasibility of their further processing and decomposition into pure-phase ZnSe. Here we demonstrated that ZnSe·0.5N2H4 hybrid nanostructures, which were prepared using a facile hydrazine-assisted hydrothermal method, may practically harvest solar energy for photoconversion applications. By modulating the volume ratio of hydrazine hydrate to deionized water employed in the synthesis, the morphology of the grown ZnSe·0.5N2H4 can be varied, which included nanowires, nanobelts and nanoflakes. With the relatively long exciton lifetime and highly anisotropic structure, ZnSe·0.5N2H4 nanowires performed much better in the photodegradation of rhodamine B than the other two counterpart products. As compared to pure ZnSe nanoparticles and single-phase ZnSe nanowires obtained from further processing ZnSe·0.5N2H4, the ZnSe·0.5N2H4 hybrid nanowires exhibited superior photocatalytic performance under visible light illumination. The hybrid nanowires were further decorated with Au particles to endow them with structural and compositional diversities. Time-resolved photoluminescence spectra suggested that almost 40% of the photoexcited electrons in ZnSe·0.5N2H4 nanowires can be transported to the decorated Au, which enabled a fuller extent of participation of charge carriers in the photocatalytic process and thus conduced to a significant enhancement in the photocatalytic activity. The demonstrations from this work illustrate that ZnSe·0.5N2H4 hybrid nanostructures can serve as a versatile photocatalyst platform for advanced photocatalytic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Chih Chen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Chiao Tung University , 1001 University Road, Hsinchu, Taiwan 30010, Republic of China
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97
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Liang D, Cabán-Acevedo M, Kaiser NS, Jin S. Gated Hall effect of nanoplate devices reveals surface-state-induced surface inversion in iron pyrite semiconductor. Nano Lett 2014; 14:6754-6760. [PMID: 25398133 DOI: 10.1021/nl501942w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Understanding semiconductor surface states is critical for their applications, but fully characterizing surface electrical properties is challenging. Such a challenge is especially crippling for semiconducting iron pyrite (FeS2), whose potential for solar energy conversion has been suggested to be held back by rich surface states. Here, by taking advantage of the high surface-to-bulk ratio in nanostructures and effective electrolyte gating, we develop a general method to fully characterize both the surface inversion and bulk electrical transport properties for the first time through electrolyte-gated Hall measurements of pyrite nanoplate devices. Our study shows that pyrite is n-type in the bulk and p-type near the surface due to strong inversion and yields the concentrations and mobilities of both bulk electrons and surface holes. Further, solutions of the Poisson equation reveal a high-density of surface holes accumulated in a 1.3 nm thick strong inversion layer and an upward band bending of 0.9-1.0 eV. This work presents a general methodology for using transport measurements of nanostructures to study both bulk and surface transport properties of semiconductors. It also suggests that high-density of surface states are present on surface of pyrite, which partially explains the universal p-type conductivity and lack of photovoltage in polycrystalline pyrite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Liang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
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98
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Holt AL, Vahidinia S, Gagnon YL, Morse DE, Sweeney AM. Photosymbiotic giant clams are transformers of solar flux. J R Soc Interface 2014; 11:20140678. [PMID: 25401182 PMCID: PMC4223897 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2014.0678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2014] [Accepted: 09/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
'Giant' tridacnid clams have evolved a three-dimensional, spatially efficient, photodamage-preventing system for photosymbiosis. We discovered that the mantle tissue of giant clams, which harbours symbiotic nutrition-providing microalgae, contains a layer of iridescent cells called iridocytes that serve to distribute photosynthetically productive wavelengths by lateral and forward-scattering of light into the tissue while back-reflecting non-productive wavelengths with a Bragg mirror. The wavelength- and angle-dependent scattering from the iridocytes is geometrically coupled to the vertically pillared microalgae, resulting in an even re-distribution of the incoming light along the sides of the pillars, thus enabling photosynthesis deep in the tissue. There is a physical analogy between the evolved function of the clam system and an electric transformer, which changes energy flux per area in a system while conserving total energy. At incident light levels found on shallow coral reefs, this arrangement may allow algae within the clam system to both efficiently use all incident solar energy and avoid the photodamage and efficiency losses due to non-photochemical quenching that occur in the reef-building coral photosymbiosis. Both intra-tissue radiometry and multiscale optical modelling support our interpretation of the system's photophysics. This highly evolved 'three-dimensional' biophotonic system suggests a strategy for more efficient, damage-resistant photovoltaic materials and more spatially efficient solar production of algal biofuels, foods and chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda L. Holt
- Center for Energy Efficiency and Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, 3155 Marine Biotechnology Building, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, David Rittenhouse Laboratories, University of Pennsylvania, 2N10, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Sanaz Vahidinia
- NASA Ames Research Center, Bay Area Environmental Research Institute, Moffett Field, Mountain View, CA 94035, USA
| | - Yakir Luc Gagnon
- Department of Biology, Duke University, PO Box 90338, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Daniel E. Morse
- Center for Energy Efficiency and Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, 3155 Marine Biotechnology Building, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Alison M. Sweeney
- Center for Energy Efficiency and Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, 3155 Marine Biotechnology Building, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, David Rittenhouse Laboratories, University of Pennsylvania, 2N10, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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99
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Barawi M, Ferrer IJ, Ares JR, Sánchez C. Hydrogen evolution using palladium sulfide (PdS) nanocorals as photoanodes in aqueous solution. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2014; 6:20544-20549. [PMID: 25340641 DOI: 10.1021/am5061504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Palladium sulfide (PdS) nanostructures are proposed to be used as photoanodes in photoelectrochemical cells (PECs) for hydrogen evolution due to their adequate transport and optical properties shown in previous works. Here, a complete morphological and electrochemical characterization of PdS films has been performed by different techniques. PdS flatband potential (Vfb=-0.65±0.05 V vs NHE) was determined by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements in aqueous Na2SO3 electrolyte, providing a description of the energy levels scheme at the electrolyte-semiconductor interface. This energy levels scheme confirms PdS as a compound able to photogenerate hydrogen in a PEC. At last, photogenerated hydrogen rates are measured continuously by mass spectrometry as a function of the external bias potential under illumination, reaching values up to 4.4 μmolH2/h at 0.3 V vs Ag/AgCl.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Barawi
- Materials of Interest in Renewable Energies Laboratory (MIRE), Departmento de Física de Materiales, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid , Madrid 28049, Spain
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100
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Yu S, Kim YH, Lee SY, Song HD, Yi J. Hot-electron-transfer enhancement for the efficient energy conversion of visible light. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2014; 53:11203-7. [PMID: 25169852 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201405598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Great strides have been made in enhancing solar energy conversion by utilizing plasmonic nanostructures in semiconductors. However, current generation with plasmonic nanostructures is still somewhat inefficient owing to the ultrafast decay of plasmon-induced hot electrons. It is now shown that the ultrafast decay of hot electrons across Au nanoparticles can be significantly reduced by strong coupling with CdS quantum dots and by a Schottky junction with perovskite SrTiO3 nanoparticles. The designed plasmonic nanostructure with three distinct components enables a hot-electron-assisted energy cascade for electron transfer, CdS→Au→SrTiO3, as demonstrated by steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy. Consequently, hot-electron transfer enabled the efficient production of H2 from water as well as significant electron harvesting under irradiation with visible light of various wavelengths. These findings provide a new approach for overcoming the low efficiency that is typically associated with plasmonic nanostructures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sungju Yu
- World Class University Program of Chemical Convergence for Energy & Environment, School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742 (Republic of Korea) http://empl.snu.ac.kr
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