Regulating spatial charge transfer over intrinsically ultrathin-carbon-encapsulated photoanodes toward solar water splitting

Abstract

Ultrathin carbon encapsulation, stibnite photosensitization and Co-Pi co-catalyst decoration were synergistically integrated to regulate spatial charge transfer for solar water splitting.

Preparation of ZnO/two-layer self-doped black TiO2 nanotube arrays and their enhanced photochemical properties

“…† Consistently, the HRTEM image of the ZnO/2-B-TNTs demonstrates two sets of lattice fringes of 0.353 and 0.282 nm, corresponding to the (101) and (100) crystal planes of anatase TiO 2 and ZnO nanorods, respectively. 22,23 The crystal structure of the samples was determined by XRD in Fig. 2(a).…”

Core–Shell Photoanodes for Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation

“…[ 85 ] In recent years, various carbon materials, including carbon nanolayer, graphene and graphdiyne, have been applied as holes extraction layer or protective layer to improve photoanode activity and stability. [ 52c,86 ] Shown in Figure a is the TEM image of Ti:Fe 2 O 3 coated with an amorphous N‐doped carbon (N:C) nanolayer with a thickness of 10 nm. [ 82 ] The N:C layer extracted and collected photoexcited holes from the bulk of Ti:Fe 2 O 3 , inhibiting the recombination of charge carriers.…”

New carbon/ZnO/Li2O nanocomposites with enhanced photocatalytic activity

“…In recent studies, carbon materials like graphene or carbon nanotubes were doped with semiconducting materials (TiO 2 nanostructures arrays) and nanocrystalline particles (Au, Pd, Sb 2 S 3 , etc.) for an electron flow from semiconductor to metal and to prevent the recombination of the photoexcited electron-hole pairs by a cascade charge transfer photocatalytic mechanism in photoelectrochemical cells 28–31 . Electron-hole pairs formation ( e − − h + ) are the result of light irradiation of carbon-semiconductor-metal.…”

“…The carbonaceous material transports the electrons accumulated in the conduction band of the semiconductor promoting directional electron transport. Furthermore, the holes from the valence band of the metal nanoparticles enable water oxidation forming oxygen active species that prevent the recombination of photoinduced e − − h + pairs thus prolonging the lifetime of the charge carriers 31 .…”