Modulation of the photoelectrochemical behavior of Au nanocluster–TiO₂ electrode by doping

Abstract

Optoelectronic properties of Au18(SR)14 are modulated by Ag doping, and its influence on photoelectrochemical performance is investigated. The best compromise for light conversion efficiency is made when a single Ag atom is incorporated.

Tuning atomically precise metal nanocluster mediated photoelectrocatalysis via a non-conjugated polymer

“…9,10 In recent years, metal-NC-based photosystems have been sporadically reported, wherein the metal NCs serve as photosensitizers to extend the light absorption of wide-band-gap semiconductors (WBSs) to the visible region, accompanied by directional electron transfer from the LUMO level of the metal NCs to the conduction band (CB) of the WBS under simulated solar or visible light irradiation. 11…”

Similar Looks, Different Photoelectrochemical Behavior: Unique Aspects of Metal-Nanocluster-Sensitized Electrodes

“…From the viewpoint of progress in terms of the photoconversion efficiency to date (Table ), Au NC-sensitized solar cells are enjoying a record PCE of 4.22% with adequate photostability under 1 sun illumination (Figure F) . The photovoltage of 832 mV recorded in MCSSCs is among the highest values observed in liquid-junction solar cells .…”

“…(F) Photocurrent stability of MCSSCs under 1 sun continuous illumination. Reproduced from ref . Copyright 2020 The Royal Society of Chemistry.…”

“…The photovoltage of 832 mV recorded in MCSSCs is among the highest values observed in liquid-junction solar cells . The 29-fold increase in the photocurrent generation capacity of Au NC-sensitized solar cells since their inception (from 290 μA cm –2 to 8.45 mA cm –2 ) highlights their efficient ability to convert photons into electrical energy. , Furthermore, modulating the electronic structure of Au NCs via an appropriate level of Ag doping has also been shown to be an effective strategy to improve the PCE of MCSSCs . Along with the doping, core restructuring of Au NCs is also a novel strategy to boost the performance of MCSSCs .…”

Understanding nascent plasmons and metallic bonding in atomically precise gold nanoclusters

“…Toward the smaller end of gold NP size (i.e., < 3 nm), the SPR gradually fades out with decreasing size due to quantum size effect, [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] hence, exhibiting a transition from metallic to nonmetallic state; the latter is manifested in the emergence of a distinct bandgap or HOMO-LUMO gap (E g ). [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] On a note, the term 'nonmetallic' is equivalent to molecular, semiconducting, or insulating, and all of them have been used in the literature.…”