Carbon-doped SnS2 nanostructure as a high-efficiency solar fuel catalyst under visible light

Abstract

Photocatalytic formation of hydrocarbons using solar energy via artificial photosynthesis is a highly desirable renewable-energy source for replacing conventional fossil fuels. Using an l-cysteine-based hydrothermal process, here we synthesize a carbon-doped SnS2 (SnS2-C) metal dichalcogenide nanostructure, which exhibits a highly active and selective photocatalytic conversion of CO2 to hydrocarbons under visible-light. The interstitial carbon doping induced microstrain in the SnS2 lattice, resulting in different photophysical properties as compared with undoped SnS2. This SnS2-C photocatalyst significantly enhances the CO2 reduction activity under visible light, attaining a photochemical quantum efficiency of above 0.7%. The SnS2-C photocatalyst represents an important contribution towards high quantum efficiency artificial photosynthesis based on gas phase photocatalytic CO2 reduction under visible light, where the in situ carbon-doped SnS2 nanostructure improves the stability and the light harvesting and charge separation efficiency, and significantly enhances the photocatalytic activity.

Pyrosynthesis of Na3V2(PO4)3@C Cathodes for Safe and Low‐Cost Aqueous Hybrid Batteries

“…It is worth noting here that the Raman, FE‐TEM, and EDX studies confirm the distribution of the carbon on the surface of particles, not inside the particles. When the carbon penetrates through inside the particles or carbon is doped into the lattice, the XRD peaks are shifted, as reported previously in the literature . Our high‐resolution XRD and Rietveld analyses also suggests that there is no shifting of the peaks in comparison to the reference pattern (JCPDS No.…”

Defect Engineering of Photocatalysts for Solar Energy Conversion

“…After the regulation of light absorption and charge separation, there is a main task to promote the surface PC reactions by the defects . For example, compared with BiOCl (010) surface, OVs confined in BiOCl (010) surface presented the excellent activity of the photo‐oxidation due to the activation of adsorbed water by OVs .…”

“…For example, compared with BiOCl (010) surface, OVs confined in BiOCl (010) surface presented the excellent activity of the photo‐oxidation due to the activation of adsorbed water by OVs . The superior PC performance toward the conversion of CO 2 to hydrocarbons was achieved using carbon‐doped SnS 2 (SnS 2 ‐C) catalysts due to the formation of the microstrain in SnS 2 lattice by carbon doping strategy . As‐synthesized visible‐light‐driven Bi metal@defective Bi 2 O 2 SiO 3 photocatalysts showed the PC removal of NO due to the effective regulation of light absorption and charge separation by the defects .…”

“…b) Band diagram and mechanism of SnS 2 ‐C and SnS 2 . Reproduced with permission . Copyright 2018, Nature Publishing Group.…”

Enhancement of Visible‐Light Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production by CeCO3OH in g‐C3N4/CeO2 System

“…Hydrogen is a promising and environmentally friendly energy to replace fossil fuel because of its high energy density and non‐pollution. After TiO 2 was discovered as a photocatalyst to split water in 1972, researchers have done many efforts to seek inexpensive, robust and stable photocatalysts (metal oxides, sulfides and nitrides) to enhance the hydrogen evolution ability . Besides, graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C 3 N 4 ) aroused people‘s wide concern owing to its simple process, wide visible absorption and non‐toxicity .…”