Charge Transfer and Photocatalytic Activity in CuO/TiO₂ Nanoparticle Heterojunctions Synthesised through a Rapid, One‐Pot, Microwave Solvothermal Route

Abstract

The front cover artwork for Issue 11/2015 is provided by the group of Dr. Junwang Tang, University College London. The image shows how solar energy can be utilised to efficiently decontaminate wastewater supplies by using nanostructured heterojunction photocatalysts. See the Full Paper itself at .

Contribution of CuxO distribution, shape and ratio on TiO2 nanotubes to improve methanol production from CO2 photoelectroreduction

“…The e − CB of NT/TiO 2 crystalline phase are captured by holes generated in the CuO, based on a Z-scheme mechanism (route III) [70,71], while the e − CB of Cu 2 O are injected directly in CB of NT/TiO 2 (route II) or CuO nanoparticles (route I), thereby delaying the recombination of photogenerated charge carriers and prolonging their lifetime to reactions. As observed in others works [72,73], in the TiO 2 -Cu x O heterojunction system, the CuO and Cu 2 O nanoparticles act as an electron trapper and an electron supplier, respectively. After the activation of NT/TiO 2 -Cu x O by irradiation (Eq.…”

Visible Light Driven Photoanodes for Water Oxidation Based on Novel r-GO/β-Cu2V2O7/TiO2 Nanorods Composites

“…The interaction between the TiO 2 NRs and β-Cu 2 V 2 O 7 has a favorable effect on the photocurrent production since the deposition of V 2 O 5 on TiO 2 NRs, by the same AASP process, does not lead to any particular enhancement in the photocurrent if compared with untreated TiO 2 (see Figures S8 and S9 ). It’s also known that the decoration of Degussa P25 by CuO nanoparticles actually leads to a modest enhancement of photocurrent values [ 37 ]. A significant improvement in the photocurrent density can be achieved by decorating the β-Cu 2 V 2 O 7 /TiO 2 sample by GO followed by heat treatment at about 200 °C.…”

Unbiased spontaneous solar hydrogen production using stable TiO2–CuO composite nanofiber photocatalysts

“…7d shows the normal volcano shape usually seen in catalysis research, where the amount of evolved hydrogen increases with increasing the CuO loading till 0.1 g (1116 and 2715 mmol g À1 for the nanobers annealed in oxygen and air atmospheres, respectively) then declines upon increasing the CuO loading to 0.125 g. This might be attributed to the shielding effect caused by CuO at concentrations higher than 0.1 g, as most of the solar radiation would be absorbed by CuO, thus lower amount of the light is able to reach TiO 2 to excite the electrons in the VB. 24,35 The enhancement in the hydrogen yield can be attributed to the transfer of electrons from the conduction band of TiO 2 to the lower conduction band of CuO, [36][37][38][39] due to the formation of a pn junction between TiO 2 and CuO. This p-n junction is very effective in separating the photogenerated charge carriers and hence enhancing the photocatalytic activity.…”