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Atomic Layer Deposition of ZnO on TiO2 Nanofibers for Boosted Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production

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Abstract

In consideration of the urgency to replace fossil fuel-based energy sources with renewable sources, one should do much to develop efficient photocatalyst that are capable of converting solar energy into hydrogen fuel. This work describes the atomic layer deposition (ALD) of ZnO on electrospinning TiO2 nanofibers to form a 1D TiO2@ZnO heterojunction. The obtained TiO2@ZnO composite were systematically investigated to reveal their structural and morphological properties by using SEM, BET, XRD, and TEM with EDX spectroscopy. The TiO2@ZnO hybrids showed enhanced photocatalytic activity towards hydrogen production as compared to the pure TiO2 nanofibers. The optimum hydrogen production rate was reaching to 1190.9 μmol/h/g without use of any co-catalytic noble metals, which is 6.5 folds higher than that of bare TiO2 counterpart, and also better or comparable to the ever reported TiO2@ZnO photocatalysts. Based on the mechanism analysis, the Type-II heterojunction charge transfer route was responsible for the boosted performance over the TiO2@ZnO composite.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by State Grid Zhejiang Electric Power Co., LTD Double Innovation Project (Grant No. B711JZ190006) and State Grid Co., Headquarters Science and Technology Project (Grant No. 5400-201919487A).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Grid Ningbo Power Supply Company, Ningbo, 315010, People’s Republic of China

    Kaihe Zhou, Yanwei Zhu, Xiaming Ye & Yueping Yang

  2. State Grid Zhejiang Electric Power Co., LTD Double Innovation Center, Hangzhou, 31014, People’s Republic of China

    Peng Li & Huazhi Chen

  3. State Grid Zhejiang Economic Research Institute, Hangzhou, 31007, People’s Republic of China

    Yangqing Dan

  4. Institute of Materials, Ningbo University of Technology, Ningbo, 315211, People’s Republic of China

    Yanfen Yuan & Huilin Hou

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  1. Kaihe Zhou
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  2. Peng Li
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Correspondence to Yanfen Yuan or Huilin Hou.

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Zhou, K., Li, P., Zhu, Y. et al. Atomic Layer Deposition of ZnO on TiO2 Nanofibers for Boosted Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production. Catal Lett 151, 78–85 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10562-020-03276-y

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