Construction and Nanoscale Detection of Interfacial Charge Transfer of Elegant Z-Scheme WO₃/Au/In₂S₃ Nanowire Arrays

Abstract

Elegant Z-scheme WO3/Au/In2S3 nanowire arrays were precisely constructed through a facile step-by-step route. Surface potential change on pristine or In2S3-Au coated WO3 single nanowire under dark and illumination detected through a Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) technique indicates that the vectorial holes transfer of In2S3 → Au → WO3 should occur upon the excitation of both WO3 and In2S3. In such charge transfer processes, the embedded Au nanoparticles in the heterojunction systems act as a charge mediator for electrons in the conduction band of WO3 and holes in the valence band of In2S3. The strong charge carrier separation ability of this structure will finally enhance the oxidation ability of WO3 with high concertation of photogenerated holes and, further, leave the free electrons in the In2S3 with long surviving time. Therefore, the unique Z-scheme WO3/Au/In2S3 heterostructure shows great visible-light activity toward photocatalytic reduction of CO2 in the presence of water vapor into renewable hydrocarbon fuel (methane: CH4).

Synthesis of Large Surface‐Area g‐C3N4 Comodified with MnOx and Au‐TiO2 as Efficient Visible‐Light Photocatalysts for Fuel Production

“…[29] In particular, to construct heterojunctions has been considered as one of the most effective modification strategy in three different kinds of ways. Several strategies have been successfully developed, including nanostructure architecture, noble metal deposition, and hetero junctional construction to facilitate the charge separation of gC 3 N 4 .…”

A Facet‐Dependent Schottky‐Junction Electron Shuttle in a BiVO4{010}–Au–Cu2O Z‐Scheme Photocatalyst for Efficient Charge Separation

“…The compositions of various BiVO 4 ‐based samples were further confirmed by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses (Figure S3, Supporting Information). UV–vis absorption measurements (Figure S4, Supporting Information) showed that the similar visible‐light absorption of BiVO 4 {010}‐Au and BiVO 4 {110}–Au was broader relative to that of the pristine BiVO 4 crystal, which was ascribed to localized surface plasmon resonance absorption from the Au particles . Moreover, the absorption spectrum of BiVO 4 {010}–Cu 2 O improved after the deposition of Cu 2 O on the BiVO 4 surface, which was due to the characteristic absorption of Cu 2 O.…”

“…In a Z‐scheme system, electron migration between the two photocatalysts is the rate‐determining process . Ionic redox couples, such as Fe 3+ /Fe 2+ and IO 3− /I − , have been shown to be effective in shuttling electrons in Z‐scheme systems .…”

Enriching Hot Electrons via NIR‐Photon‐Excited Plasmon in WS2@Cu Hybrids for Full‐Spectrum Solar Hydrogen Evolution

“…Seeking clean and renewable energy is extremely urgent to solve the energy crisis and environmental pollution . Photocatalytic hydrogen (H 2 ) evolution from water using solar energy has been considered as an ideal future energy source . To warrant serious practical interest, the solar‐to‐hydrogen (STH) conversion efficiency can be the most critical concern, which still suffers from some typical constraints including inadequate solar light utilization and severe charge‐carrier recombination.…”