Photoelectrochemical production of useful fuels from carbon dioxide on a polypyrrole-coated p-ZnTe photocathode under visible light irradiation

Abstract

To achieve high performing photoelectrochemical CO2 reduction, polypyrrole-coated p-ZnTe electrode (PPy/ZnTe) was fabricated as a new photocathode material and its catalytic activities were investigated. The deposited PPy on the p-ZnTe electrode improved the photoelectrochemical CO2 reduction activity as a surface modifying catalyst. Under irradiation of the visible light, the PPy/ZnTe showed a prominent performance with a 51.0 % of Faradaic efficiency at -0.2 V (vs. RHE) without any significant overpotential loss. The ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) implied that the enhanced catalytic performances were primarily attributed to the enhanced conversion efficiency of photoenergy onto the PPy/ZnTe. It was suggested that PPy/ZnTe electrode improved the generation of photo-induced electron-hole pairs, and the different work functions of ZnTe and PPy introduced an electron pathway from ZnTe to PPy and then to reactants.

Boosted Interfacial Polarization from Multishell TiO2@Fe3O4@PPy Heterojunction for Enhanced Microwave Absorption

“…The hierarchical TF@PPy microstructure can induce abundant of local heterojunction contacts (Figure a,e). The positive carriers accumulate on the lateral surfaces of PPy and TiO 2 while the Fe 3 O 4 microspheres become negatively charged due to the relatively higher work function of Fe 3 O 4 crystal, through which the space charge region and built‐in electric field can be evidently formed at the interfaces of PPy–Fe 3 O 4 and Fe 3 O 4 –TiO 2 for the Fermi level equilibrium (Scheme a) . As a result, the dynamic equilibrium of the diffusion and migration could drive the separation of the positive and the negative around phase boundary of PPy–Fe 3 O 4 and Fe 3 O 4 –TiO 2 , thus forming a local dipole electric field (arrows marked in Figure d,h).…”

Rational design of photoelectrodes for photoelectrochemical water splitting and CO2 reduction

“…The conductive polymers like polypyrrole and polycation have been proven as effective cocatalysts for improving PEC CO2 reduction owing to the rich functional groups in polymers can promote the CO2 reduction selectivity, by binding with reaction molecules and modulating the adsorption fashions [118,128]. For instance, Isaacs, et al explored the behaviors of poly-diallyldimethylammonium (PDDA) and poly(2trimethylammonium)ethyl methacrylate (PMAEMA) in PEC CO2 reduction system by combing with CdTe quantum dots (QDs) ( Fig.…”

Artificial Photosynthesis of Alcohols by Multi‐Functionalized Semiconductor Photocathodes

“…[24][25][26][27][28][29] The electrochemical reduction reaps the benefits of utilizingw ater as reaction medium that facilitates proton and electron transfer. [33][34][35][36] Novel artificial photosynthesis systems are devised as cells of dye/Pd/NR-MO x (M = Ti,Z n) k CoPi/W:BiVO 4 that convert efficiently CO 2 to alcohols. [11,32] Although photoelectrocatalytic CO 2 reduction in water has more advantages than single photo-or electro-catalytic processes, very limited examples have been reported and there are some drawbacks such as lower efficiency and mixed products.…”

“…[11,32] Although photoelectrocatalytic CO 2 reduction in water has more advantages than single photo-or electro-catalytic processes, very limited examples have been reported and there are some drawbacks such as lower efficiency and mixed products. [33][34][35][36] Novel artificial photosynthesis systems are devised as cells of dye/Pd/NR-MO x (M = Ti,Z n) k CoPi/W:BiVO 4 that convert efficiently CO 2 to alcohols. The photocathodes are aminofunctionalized, palladium-deposited, and in situ sensitized nano-TiO 2 or ZnO/FTO (FTO:f luorine-doped tin oxide) electrodes that are characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), TEM, XRD, UV/Vis spectra, and evaluated by electrochemicalt echniques.…”