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Mesoporous TiO2 mixed crystals for photocatalytic pure water splitting

介孔混晶TiO2光催化全分解水研究

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Abstract

Semiconductor mesoporous single crystals have attracted considerable attention due to the merits of excellent light absorption ability and large surface area for photocatalysis capability. However, most of the materials have a relative large size (∼um), which can hardly suppress the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes. In this work, we synthesized a series of nano mesoporous TiO2 mixed crystals (brookite and rutile) with high carrier transfer efficiency, improved mass transfer and diffusion abilities, which are crucial for the outstanding photocatalytic performance. Meanwhile, the key factors in the growth process and mechanism of the mesoporous TiO2 mixed crystals were addressed. With the assistance of Pt nanoparticles, H2 and H2O2 production can be simultaneously achieved and the efficiencies can reach up to 9.46 ± 0.56 and 3.29 ± 1.28 µmol mg−1 h−1, respectively. The H2 evolution rate is 2.8-fold higher than that of the reported TiO2 nanoparticle catalyst (3.34 µmol mg−1 h−1). The excellent photocatalytic efficiency can be attributed to the special mixed crystal structure of the mesoporous TiO2 crystals. This work provides new ideas and guidance for precise synthesis of nano mesoporous TiO2 mixed crystals and enhancing their water splitting performance with high value-added products.

摘要半

导体介孔单晶具有良好的光吸收能力和较大的比表面积, 因而受到广泛关注. 但多数材料的尺寸较大(∼um), 难以抑制光电子与空穴的复合. 在本工作中, 我们准确地合成了一系列载流子转移效率高、 传质和扩散能力强的纳米介孔板钛矿-金红石TiO2混晶. 同时, 详细研究了介孔TiO2混晶生长的关键因素和机理. 以Pt纳米颗粒作为助催化剂, 实现了全分解水产氢气和过氧化氢, 氢气和过氧化氢的生成速率分别达到9.46±0.56和3.29±1.28 μmol mg−1 h−1. 氢气产率是目 报道的TiO2(3.34 μmol mg−1 h−1)的2.8倍. 介孔TiO2晶体的纳米尺度和混合晶体结构使其具有优异的光催化效率. 本工作为纳米介孔TiO2混合晶体的精准合成, 以及光催化全分解水制备高附加值产品提供了新思路.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21703046), and the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2016YFA0200902).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China

    Lichao Wang  (王利超), Zhaozhong Xiao  (肖召忠) & Zhi Ma  (马智)

  2. CAS Key Laboratory of Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China

    Lichao Wang  (王利超), Zhaozhong Xiao  (肖召忠), Shuang Cao  (曹爽) & Lingyu Piao  (朴玲钰)

  3. School of Metallurgy and Chemical Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou, 341000, China

    Ye Liu  (刘叶)

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  1. Lichao Wang  (王利超)
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  2. Zhaozhong Xiao  (肖召忠)
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  3. Ye Liu  (刘叶)
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  4. Shuang Cao  (曹爽)
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  5. Zhi Ma  (马智)
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  6. Lingyu Piao  (朴玲钰)
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Contributions

Author contributions Wang L designed and modified the samples and performed the experiments; Piao L and Cao S provided pivotal advice; Wang L wrote the paper with support from Piao L and Cao S. All authors contributed to the general discussion.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Shuang Cao  (曹爽), Zhi Ma  (马智) or Lingyu Piao  (朴玲钰).

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Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Lichao Wang is currently a master student at the School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University. He joined the National Center for Nanoscience and Technology as a joint student. His research interests focus on the design and fabrication of photocatalysts for H2 production.

Shuang Cao received her PhD degree from the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences under the supervision of Prof. Yong Chen and Prof. Wen-Fu Fu in 2016. She joined the National Center for Nanoscience and Technology as a research associate in 2016. Her research focuses on designing and optimizing photocatalysts for H2 production.

Zhi Ma is an associate professor of the School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University. He received his PhD degree from Tianjin University in 1998. He worked in Tianjin University after his master’s degree in 1990. His research interest focuses on the application and exploitation aspects of nanometer catalyst.

Lingyu Piao received her PhD degree from Tianjin University in 2002. She did her postdoctoral research at Peking University and Marie Curie University, respectively from 2002 to 2005. She joined the National Center for Nanoscience and Technology in 2005. Her research interest focuses on the design and synthesis of nano functional materials and their applications in energy, environmental photocatalysis and biology.

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Wang, L., Xiao, Z., Liu, Y. et al. Mesoporous TiO2 mixed crystals for photocatalytic pure water splitting. Sci. China Mater. 63, 758–768 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-019-1253-8

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