Rational design of yolk–shell nanostructures for photocatalysis

Abstract

Yolk–shell structures provide an ideal platform for the rational regulation and effective utilization of charge carriers because of their void space and large surface areas. Furthermore, the efficiency of charge behavior in every step can be further improved by many strategies. This review describes the synthesis of yolk–shell structures and their effect for the enhancement of heterogeneous photocatalysis.

Hollow Structured Metal Sulfides for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation

“…For instance, multi‐cores/multi‐shells YS nanostructure, which possesses the individual traits of multiple core and multiple shell hollow structures, may possess the largest surface area exposed with a much higher number of active sites among them. It may also promote more light scattering due to the presence of more void space, thus being able to show synergetic enhancement of charge generation and surface reaction . Furthermore, the preparation method of YS structure is almost similar to that of multiple shells, except that the core is not totally dissolved.…”

“…There are several recent review articles that discussed the general synthetic procedure for preparing YS nanostructure. However, examples for the multiple core/multiple shell YS metal sulfide structure are still very rare, although this kind of structure would be highly beneficial towards the enhancement of photocatalytic activity …”

Perylene diimide‐modified magnetic γ‐Fe2O3/CeO2 nanoparticles as peroxidase mimics for highly sensitive colorimetric detection of Vitamin C

“…[20] Meanwhile, the presence of transformable valence ion pairs Ce 3+ /Ce 4+ may lower the activation energy, thus greatly enhance the efficacy of the surface reaction. [21] And to the best of our knowledge, there is no report on the peroxidase-like activity of magnetic γ-Fe 2 O 3 /CeO 2 -PDI nanoparticles. This hybrid structure can not only maintain the magnetic separation properties of γ-Fe 2 O 3 but make full use of the strong redox behavior together with surface defects of CeO 2 .…”

“…Among these decorative materials, CeO 2 exhibits excellent catalytic activities due to its special oxygen storage capacity, which can store and release highly active oxygen species . Meanwhile, the presence of transformable valence ion pairs Ce 3+ /Ce 4+ may lower the activation energy, thus greatly enhance the efficacy of the surface reaction . And to the best of our knowledge, there is no report on the peroxidase‐like activity of magnetic γ‐Fe 2 O 3 /CeO 2 ‐PDI nanoparticles.…”

Photocatalytic and Photoelectrochemical Systems: Similarities and Differences

“…Experimentally, these strategies involve some common methods such as loading a cocatalyst to improve surface charge transport, doping of foreign atoms into the regular crystal lattice of a semiconductor to introduce impurity energy levels that essentially change the bandgap and band energy, and nanotexturing the semiconductor to increase the surface area . A great number of comprehensive reviews on these topics, ranging from design and fabrication of materials to material characterizations and reactor design, have been produced over the last two decades . Despite being applicable to various groups of photoactive semiconductors, these synthetic, modification, and design strategies may impose different levels of effectiveness or sometimes even result in conflicting outcomes when the same photoactive semiconductor is employed in different systems: photocatalytic or photoelectrochemical systems.…”