Energy-saving photodetectors are the key components in future photonic systems and particularly, self-powered photoelectrochemical-type photodetectors (PEC-PDs) which depart completely from the classical solid-state junction device, have lately intrigued intensive interest to meet next-generation power-independent and environment-sensitive photodetection. Herein, we construct, for the first time, solar-blind PEC PDs based on self-assembled AlGaN nanostructures on silicon. Importantly, with the proper surface platinum (Pt) decoration, a significant boost of photon responsivity by more than an order of magnitude was achieved in the newly built AlGaN:Pt nanoarchitectures, demonstrating strikingly high responsivity of 45 mA/W and record fast response/recovery time of 47/20 ms without external power source. Such high solar-blind photodetection originates from the unparalleled material quality, fast interfacial kinetics, as well as high carrier separation efficiency which suggests that embracement of defectfree wide-bandgap semiconductor nanostructures with appropriate surface decoration offers an unprecedented opportunity for designing future energy-efficient and large-scale optoelectronic systems on silicon platform.
The production of H2O2 via the electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) presents an attractive decentralized alternative to the current industry‐dominant anthraquinone process. However, in order to achieve viable commercialization of this process, a state‐of‐the‐art electrocatalyst exhibiting high activity, selectivity, and long‐term stability is imperative for industrial applications. Herein, an in‐depth discussion on the current frontiers in electrocatalyst design is provided, emphasizing the influences of electronic and geometric effects, surface structure, and the effects of heteroatom functionalization on the catalytic performance of commonly studied materials (metals, alloys, carbons). The limitations on the performance of the current catalyst materials are also discussed, together with alternative strategies to overcome the impediments. Finally, directions of future research efforts for the discovery of next‐generation ORR electrocatalysts are highlighted.
The identity of the rate-determining step (RDS) in the electrochemical CO reduction reaction (CORR) on Cu catalysts remains unresolved because:1 )the presence of mass transport limitation of CO;a nd 2) the absence of quantitative correlation between CO partial pressure (p CO )and surface CO coverage.I nt his work, we determined CO adsorption isotherms on Cu in ab road pH range of 7.2-12.9. Together with electrokinetic data, we demonstrate that the reaction orders of adsorbed CO at p CO < 0.4 and > 0.6 atm are 1 st and 0 th , respectively,f or multi-carbon (C 2+ )p roducts on three Cu catalysts.T hese results indicate that the C À Cc oupling is unlikely to be the RDS in the formation of C 2+ products in the CORR. We propose that the hydrogenation of CO with adsorbed water is the RDS,a nd the site competition between CO and water leads to the observed transition of the CO reaction order.
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