Defective Y₂O_3−x–driven anomalous photocatalytic enhancement using Y₂O_3−x–TiO_2−x nanorod composite composition spreads

Abstract

Synergistic photocatalysis is reported, using the optimal amounts of oxygen vacancies of high‐k materials and nanoarchitecture maneuvering by employing a combinatorial sputtering approach. The highlights include (i) the successful fabrication of samples using combinatorial sputtering; (ii) a systematic investigation of the coupling effect between Y2O3−x and TiO2−x; (iii) elucidating charge carrier transport through current‐voltage (I‐V) and capacitance‐voltage (C‐V) characterizations; and (iv) providing an alternative application for high‐dielectric constant (high‐k) materials in photocatalysis. The simple yet effective composition spread technique rapidly determined that Sample 6 (4 at% Y2O3−x‐96 at% TiO2−x, TiO2−x‐rich on the Y2O3−x–TiO2−x nanorod composite composition spread) exhibited the highest photocatalytic efficiency (i.e., approximately 3.4 times and 1.4 times higher than that of P25 and pure TiO2−x nanorods, respectively). The predominant factor was determined to be electron migration along defective Y2O3−x nanorods to the sample surface. The extracted mobility was discovered to be an order of magnitude greater than that of pure TiO2−x. The photoelectrochemical stability and reusability were also demonstrated.

Wide‐bandgap HfO2‐V2O5 nanowires heterostructure for visible light‐driven photocatalytic degradation

“…Following these studies, it is known that the performance of V 2 O 5 photocatalyst is hinged on effective charge separation and enhanced lifetime. It was reported that oxygen vacancies can act as electron trapping sites and greatly improve the lifetime of charge carriers, thus enhancing the efficiency of photodegradation . Accordingly, to utilize the electron‐hole pairs more efficiently, we have chosen HfO 2 and V 2 O 5 to form a new heterojunction photocatalyst.…”

“…It was reported that oxygen vacancies can act as electron trapping sites and greatly improve the lifetime of charge carriers, thus enhancing the efficiency of photodegradation. 51,52 Accordingly, to utilize the electron-hole pairs more efficiently, we have chosen HfO 2 and V 2 O 5 to form a new heterojunction photocatalyst. HfO 2 is known to have undesirable intrinsic oxygen vacancies and thus various defect levels.…”