Three-phase junction for modulating electron–hole migration in anatase–rutile photocatalysts

Zhao, Weina; Zhu, Shengcai; Li, Yefei; Liu, Zhi-Pan

doi:10.1039/c5sc00621j

Cited by 88 publications

(81 citation statements)

References 84 publications

(73 reference statements)

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“…As regards the electron flux direction within the P25-TiO 2 structure (rutile-to-anatase or vice versa), conflicting hypotheses have been found in the literature review [50][51][52][53]. Further possible semiconductor-semiconductor homojunctions, such as α-Ga 2 O 3 /β-Ga 2 O 3 [54] andα-CaTa 2 O 6 / β-CaTa 2 O 6 [55], are reported.…”

Section: Semiconductor-semiconductor Junctionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrogen Generation through Solar Photocatalytic Processes: A Review of the Configuration and the Properties of Effective Metal-Based Semiconductor Nanomaterials

et al. 2017

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Photocatalytic water splitting and organic reforming based on nano-sized composites are gaining increasing interest due to the possibility of generating hydrogen by employing solar energy with low environmental impact. Although great efforts in developing materials ensuring high specific photoactivity have been recently recorded in the literature survey, the solar-to-hydrogen energy conversion efficiencies are currently still far from meeting the minimum requirements for real solar applications. This review aims at reporting the most significant results recently collected in the field of hydrogen generation through photocatalytic water splitting and organic reforming, with specific focus on metal-based semiconductor nanomaterials (e.g., metal oxides, metal (oxy)nitrides and metal (oxy)sulfides) used as photocatalysts under UVA or visible light irradiation. Recent developments for improving the photoefficiency for hydrogen generation of most used metal-based composites are pointed out. The main synthesis and operating variables affecting photocatalytic water splitting and organic reforming over metal-based nanocomposites are critically evaluated.

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Section: Semiconductor-semiconductor Junctionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrogen Generation through Solar Photocatalytic Processes: A Review of the Configuration and the Properties of Effective Metal-Based Semiconductor Nanomaterials

et al. 2017

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“…The anatase/rutile phase junction has been argued to favor the charge separation of TiO 2 242526. Compositing TiO 2 with other semiconductors possessing either a wider or a narrower band gap also results in efficient charge separations and/or enhanced light harvesting from the solar light272829.…”

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confidence: 99%

UV and visible light photocatalytic activity of Au/TiO2 nanoforests with Anatase/Rutile phase junctions and controlled Au locations

Wen

Qian

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

131

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To magnify anatase/rutile phase junction effects through appropriate Au decorations, a facile solution-based approach was developed to synthesize Au/TiO2 nanoforests with controlled Au locations. The nanoforests cons®isted of anatase nanowires surrounded by radially grown rutile branches, on which Au nanoparticles were deposited with preferred locations controlled by simply altering the order of the fabrication step. The Au-decoration increased the photocatalytic activity under the illumination of either UV or visible light, because of the beneficial effects of either electron trapping or localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). Gold nanoparticles located preferably at the interface of anatase/rutile led to a further enhanced photocatalytic activity. The appropriate distributions of Au nanoparticles magnify the beneficial effects arising from the anatase/rutile phase junctions when illuminated by UV light. Under the visible light illumination, the LSPR effect followed by the consecutive electron transfer explains the enhanced photocatalysis. This study provides a facile route to control locations of gold nanoparticles in one-dimensional nanostructured arrays of multiple-phases semiconductors for achieving a further increased photocatalytic activity.

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“…a Rutile/TiO 2 -II (OR V) b TiO 2 -II/anatase (OR VI) and c anatase/rutile (OR I), Ti grey, O red. [86] Obviously, there are plenty room to improve the current theoretical methods to treat the phase transition more realistically and to determine the atomic structure in between solids in general. …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The phase junction is constructed by joining two phases (P1and P2) according to the OR [86]. * OR are as follows.I (112) A //(101) R , [1-10] A //[10-1] R ; II (111) R // (101) A , [01-1] R //[010] A ; III (101) A //(001) R , [010] A //[010] R ; IV (100) A //(110) R , [001] A //[1-10] R ; V (101) R //(001) II , [10-1] R //[100] II ; VI (100) II /(112) A , [010] II //[1-10] A ; VII (101) II /(112) A , [10-1] II //[1-10] A ; VIII (112) A /(001) II , [1-10] A //[100] II # from Ref.…”

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confidence: 99%

Atomic Structure of Heterophase Junction from Theoretical Prediction

et al. 2015

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The heterophase junction is of great importance in photocatalysis and many other applications. The mechanical, optical and electrical properties of metrical are sensitive to the atomic structure of the heterophase junction. To date, the determination of these structures at the atomic level has been of great challenge for both experiment and theory. In this focused review, we introduce the recently developed theoretical methods based on stochastic surface walking method, which in combination with finite strain theory and first principles calculations can be utilized for identifying the homogeneous phase transition pathway and characterizing the atomic structure at the phase junction. The orientation relation and the atomic habit plane obtained from theory provide the key information for constructing the coherent phase junction. We then discuss the application of the method in two example systems in the context of latest experimental findings, namely TiO 2 -B/anatase and anatase/rutile heterophase junction that are of wide application in photocatalysis.Using these examples, the merits and deficiencies of the current theoretical tools are illustrated. New theoretical approaches are called for towards the simulation of the solid-to-solid phase transition in real time and the characterization of heterostructure junction in general.

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Three-phase junction for modulating electron–hole migration in anatase–rutile photocatalysts

Abstract: Theory resolves the anatase–rutile phase junction structure and characterizes its role in photocatalysis as a single-way valve modulating electron–hole separation.

Cited by 88 publications

References 84 publications

Hydrogen Generation through Solar Photocatalytic Processes: A Review of the Configuration and the Properties of Effective Metal-Based Semiconductor Nanomaterials

Hydrogen Generation through Solar Photocatalytic Processes: A Review of the Configuration and the Properties of Effective Metal-Based Semiconductor Nanomaterials

UV and visible light photocatalytic activity of Au/TiO2 nanoforests with Anatase/Rutile phase junctions and controlled Au locations

Atomic Structure of Heterophase Junction from Theoretical Prediction

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