Photocatalytic hydrogen(H_(2))production using solar energy is a cutting-edge green technology that holds great potential for addressing the urgent fuel and environmental crises[1–3].To achieve high-efficiency H_(2) ...Photocatalytic hydrogen(H_(2))production using solar energy is a cutting-edge green technology that holds great potential for addressing the urgent fuel and environmental crises[1–3].To achieve high-efficiency H_(2) production,cocatalyst modification is commonly employed to provide active sites for the hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)[4,5].In this context,the kinetics of hydrogen adsorption and desorption at these active sites play a crucial role in enhancing overall photocatalytic H_(2) production efficiency.However,the H adsorption/desorption kinetics often exhibit a trade-off,presenting a significant challenge in achieving an optimal equilibrium between Hads and Hdes in many cocatalyst systems.Therefore,fine-tuning the active sites to optimize the H_(2) evolution kinetics is essential for improving photocatalytic activity[6].展开更多
BiVO_(4)is an ideal photocatalysts for H_(2)O_(2)generation due to its suitable band edge.In practice,however,the photocatalytic performance of BiVO_(4)is substantially low owing to the slow kinetics of 2e^(-)O_(2)red...BiVO_(4)is an ideal photocatalysts for H_(2)O_(2)generation due to its suitable band edge.In practice,however,the photocatalytic performance of BiVO_(4)is substantially low owing to the slow kinetics of 2e^(-)O_(2)reduction(2e^(-)ORR)and water oxidation(WOR)processes.To solve the problems,in this work,the AuPd alloy cocatalyst and the NiOOH cocatalys were modified on the electron(010)facets and the(110)hole facet of BiVO_(4)by photodeposition method.The designed AuPd/BiVO_(4)/NiOOH(0.5%)photocatalyst showed prominent photocatalytic H_(2)O_(2)production activity of 289.3μmmol_·L^(-1)with an AQE value of 0.89%at 420 nm,which was increased by 40 times compared with the BiVO_(4)sample(7.1μmmol_?L^(-1)).The outstanding photocatalytic activity of the AuPd/BiVO_(4)/NiOOH photocatalyst can be attributed to the synergistic effect of AuPd and NiOOH cocatalysts,which promoted the kinetics of oxygen reduction and water oxidation,and concurrently facilitated the charge separation.The present strategy of dual-cocatalyst rational assembly on different facets of BiVO_(4)provides an insight into explore efficient BiVO_(4)-based materials for H_(2)O_(2)production.展开更多
Layered transition metal hydroxides show distinct advantages in separately co-catalyzing CO_(2)reduction and H_(2)O oxidation at the electron-accumulating and hole-accumulating sites of wrapped heterojunction photocat...Layered transition metal hydroxides show distinct advantages in separately co-catalyzing CO_(2)reduction and H_(2)O oxidation at the electron-accumulating and hole-accumulating sites of wrapped heterojunction photocatalysts,while concurrently preventing side reactions and photocorrosion on the semiconductor surface.Herein,Ni-Co bimetallic hydroxides with varying Ni/Co molar ratios(Ni_(x)Co_(1-x)(OH)_(2),x=1,0.75,0.5,0.25,and 0)were grown in situ on a model 2D/2D S-scheme heterojunction composed of Cu_(2)O nanosheets and Fe_(2)O_(3)nanoplates to form a series of Cu_(2)O/Fe_(2)O_(3)@Ni_(x)Co_(1-x)(OH)_(2)(CF@NiCo)photocatalysts.The combined experimental and theoretical investigation demonstrates that incorporating an appropriate amount of Co into Ni(OH)_(2)not only modulates the energy band structure of Ni_(x)Co_(1-x)(OH)_(2),balances the electron-and hole-trapping abilities of the bifunctional cocatalyst and maximizes the charge separation efficiency of the heterojunction,but also regulates the d-band center of Ni_(x)Co_(1-x)(OH)_(2),reinforcing the adsorption and activation of CO_(2)and H_(2)O on the cocatalyst surface and lowering the rate-limiting barriers in the CO_(2)-to-CO and H_(2)O-to-O_(2)conversion.Benefiting from the Ni-Co synergy,the redox reactions proceed stoichiometrically.The optimized CF@Ni_(0.75)Co_(0.25)achieves CO and O_(2)yields of 552.7 and 313.0μmol gcat^(-1)h^(-1),respectively,11.3/9.9,1.6/1.7,and 4.5/5.9-fold higher than those of CF,CF@Ni,and CF@Co.This study offers valuable insights into the design of bifunctional noble-metal-free cocatalysts for high-performance artificial photosynthesis.展开更多
Photoelectrochemical(PEC)energy conversion has emerged as a promising and efficient approach to sustainable energy harvesting and storage.By utilizing semiconductor photoelectrodes,PEC devices can harness solar energy...Photoelectrochemical(PEC)energy conversion has emerged as a promising and efficient approach to sustainable energy harvesting and storage.By utilizing semiconductor photoelectrodes,PEC devices can harness solar energy and drive electrochemical reactions such as water splitting or carbon dioxide(CO_(2))reduction to generate clean fuels and value-added chemicals.However,PEC energy conversion faces several challenges such as high overpotential,sluggish reaction kinetics,charge carrier recombination,and stability issues,which limit its practical implementation.Recently,significant research has been conducted to improve the overall conversion efficiency of PEC devices.One particularly promising approach is the use of cocatalysts,which involves introducing specific cocatalysts onto the photoelectrode surface to promote charge separation,improve reaction kinetics,and reduce the overpotential,thereby enhancing the overall performance of PEC energy conversion.This review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent developments in the earth-abundant cocatalysts for PEC water splitting and CO_(2) reduction.The main earth-abundant catalysts for the PEC water splitting include transition-metal dichalcogenide(TMD)-based materials,metal phosphides/carbides,and metal oxides/hydroxides.Meanwhile,PEC-CO_(2)RR was divided into C_(1) and C_(2+)based on the final product since various products could be produced,focusing on diverse earth-abundant materials-based cocatalysts.In addition,we provide and highlight key advancements achieved in the very recent reports on novel PEC system design engineering with cocatalysts.Finally,the current problems associated with PEC systems are discussed along with a suggested direction to overcome these obstacles.展开更多
In addition to the electron transfer,the appropriate H-adsorption affinity of active centers on the metal cocatalyst surface is quite important for high hydrogen-production activity of cocatalyst-modified photo-cataly...In addition to the electron transfer,the appropriate H-adsorption affinity of active centers on the metal cocatalyst surface is quite important for high hydrogen-production activity of cocatalyst-modified photo-catalysts.The typical Cu and Ru metal cocatalysts clearly exhibit a weak Cu-H bond and a strong Ru-H bond,respectively,resulting in limited activity for photocatalytic H_(2)evolution.In this work,an ingenious strategy of self-optimized H-adsorption affinity in CuRu alloy cocatalyst is developed to simultaneously reinforce the Cu-H bond and weaken the Ru-H bond by the intrinsic electron transfer from Cu to Ru atom.The CuRu alloy nanoparticles(2-3 nm)were deposited on the TiO_(2)surface to prepare CuRu/TiO_(2)through a one-step photoreduction method.Photocatalytic tests exhibited that the highest H_(2)-production rate of CuRu/TiO_(2)photocatalyst reached up to 5.316 mmol h^(-1)g^(-1),which was 24.80,1.86,and 2.60 times higher than that of the TiO_(2),Cu/TiO_(2),and Ru/TiO_(2),respectively.Based on the characterization results and theoretical calculations,the CuRu alloy cocatalyst exhibits excellent self-optimized H-adsorption affinity via the spontaneous electron transfer from Cu to Ru atom,which can greatly accelerate the photocatalytic H_(2)-production rate of TiO_(2).This work provides a feasible idea for the self-optimized H-adsorption affinity of metal active sites in the photocatalytic H_(2)-generation field.展开更多
Novel WO3/g-C3N4/Ni（OH）x hybrids have been successfully synthesized by a two-step strategy of high temperature calcination and in situ photodeposition.Their photocatalytic performance was investigated using TEOA as ...Novel WO3/g-C3N4/Ni（OH）x hybrids have been successfully synthesized by a two-step strategy of high temperature calcination and in situ photodeposition.Their photocatalytic performance was investigated using TEOA as a hole scavenger under visible light irradiation.The loading of WO3 and Ni（OH）x cocatalysts boosted the photocatalytic H2 evolution efficiency of g-C3N4.WO3/g-C3N4/Ni（OH）x with 20 wt%defective WO3 and 4.8 wt%Ni（OH）x showed the highest hydrogen production rate of 576 μmol/（g·h）,which was 5.7,10.8 and 230 times higher than those of g-C3N4/4.8 wt%Ni（OH）x,20 wt%WO3/C3N4 and g-C3N4 photocatalysts,respectively.The remarkably enhanced H2 evolution performance was ascribed to the combination effects of the Z-scheme heterojunction（WO3/g-C3N4） and loaded cocatalysts（Ni（OH）x）,which effectively inhibited the recombination of the photoexcited electron-hole pairs of g-C3N4 and improved both H2 evolution and TEOA oxidation kinetics.The electron spin resonance spectra of ·O2^- and ·OH radicals provided evidence for the Z-scheme charge separation mechanism.The loading of easily available Ni（OH）x cocatalysts on the Z-scheme WO3/g-C3N4 nanocomposites provided insights into constructing a robust multiple-heterojunction material for photocatalytic applications.展开更多
Owing to their unique physicochemical,optical and electrical properties,two-dimensional(2D)MoS_(2) cocatalysts have been widely applied in designing and developing highly efficient composite photocatalysts for hydroge...Owing to their unique physicochemical,optical and electrical properties,two-dimensional(2D)MoS_(2) cocatalysts have been widely applied in designing and developing highly efficient composite photocatalysts for hydrogen generation under suitable light irradiation.In this review,we first elaborated on the fundamental aspects of 2D MoS_(2) cocatalysts to include the structural design principles,synthesis strategies,strengths and challenges.Subsequently,we thoroughly highlighted and discussed the modification strategies of 2D MoS_(2) H2-evolution cocatalysts,including doping heteroatoms(e.g.metals,non-metals,and co-doping),designing interfacial coupling morphologies,controlling the physical properties(e.g.thickness,size,structural defects or pores),exposing the reactive facets or edge sites,constructing cocatalyst heterojunctions,engineering the interfacial bonds and confinement effects.In the future,the forefront challenges in understanding and in precise controlling of the active sites at molecular level or atomic level should be carefully studied,while various potential mechanisms of photogenerated-electrons interactions should be proposed.The applications of MoS_(2) cocatalyst in the overall water splitting are also expected.This review may offer new inspiration for designing and constructing novel and efficient MoS_(2)-based composite photocatalysts for highly efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.展开更多
Photocatalytic hydrogen(H2)evolution via water spilling over semiconductors has been considered to be one of the most promising strategies for sustainable energy supply in the future to provide non-pollution and renew...Photocatalytic hydrogen(H2)evolution via water spilling over semiconductors has been considered to be one of the most promising strategies for sustainable energy supply in the future to provide non-pollution and renewable energy.The key to efficient conversion of solar-chemical energy is the design of an efficient structure for high charge separation and transportation.Therefore,cocatalysts are necessary in boosting photocatalytic H2 evolution.To date,semiconductor photocatalysts have been modified by various cocatalysts due to the extended light harvest,enhanced charge carrier separation efficiency and improved stability.This review focuses on recent developments of cocatalysts in photocatalytic H2 evolution,the roles and mechanism of the cocatalysts are discussed in detail.The cocatalysts can be divided into the following categories:metal/alloy cocatalysts,metal phosphides cocatalysts,metal oxide/hydroxide cocatalysts,carbon-based cocatalysts,dual cocatalysts,Z-scheme cocatalysts and MOFs cocatalysts.The future research and forecast for photocatalytic hydrogen generation are also suggested.展开更多
Photocatalysis is believed to be one of the best methods to realize sustainable H2 production. However, achieving this through heterogeneous photocatalysis still remains a great challenge owing to the absence of activ...Photocatalysis is believed to be one of the best methods to realize sustainable H2 production. However, achieving this through heterogeneous photocatalysis still remains a great challenge owing to the absence of active sites, sluggish surface reaction kinetics, insufficient charge separation, and a high thermodynamic barrier. Therefore, cocatalysts are necessary and of great significance in boosting photocatalytic H2 generation. This review will focus on the promising and appealing low-cost Ni-based H2-generation cocatalysts as the alternatives for the high-cost and low-abundance noble metal cocatalysts. Special emphasis has been placed on the design principle, modification strategies for further enhancing the activity and stability of Ni-based cocatalysts, and identification of the exact active sites and surface reaction mechanisms. Particularly, four types of modification strategies based on increased light harvesting, enhanced charge separation, strengthened interface interaction, and improved electrocatalytic activity have been thoroughly discussed and compared in detail. This review may open a new avenue for designing highly active and durable Ni-based cocatalysts for photocatalytic H2 generation.展开更多
Photocatalytic Hproduction from water splitting has a promising prospect for alleviating energy and environmental issues.However,the fast recombination of photogenerated charge carriers limits the photocatalytic effic...Photocatalytic Hproduction from water splitting has a promising prospect for alleviating energy and environmental issues.However,the fast recombination of photogenerated charge carriers limits the photocatalytic efficiency and its practical application.Cocatalyst engineering is an effective strategy to spatially separate photogenerated charge carriers.In this work,noble-metal-free MoSand CoOcocatalysts are loaded on CdS nanorods by a two-step photodeposition method.The MoSfunctions as the reduction cocatalyst to trap electrons and Co Oas the oxidation cocatalyst to trap holes.Transmission electron microscopy(TEM),inductively coupled plasma(ICP),X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS)and MottSchottky results demonstrate the effectiveness of photodeposition for loading MoSand CoOdual cocatalysts on CdS and their impact on the photochemical properties.The optimized CdS-MoS-CoOcomposite exhibits a high photocatalytic H-production rate of 7.4 mmol g^(-1)h^(-1)and an apparent quantum efficiency(QE)of 7.6%at 420 nm.Further analysis on time-resolved photoluminescence(TRPL)indicates that the introduction of dual cocatalysts greatly prolongs the lifetime of photogenerated charge carriers and deceases the charge recombination rates,consequently leading to superior photocatalytic H-production performance.This work provides a facile and effective strategy for the construction of highly efficient dual-cocatalyst-modified CdS photocatalyst for high-performance photocatalytic Hproduction.展开更多
TiO2 photoanodes have aroused intensive research interest in photoelectrochemical （PEC） water splitting. However, they still suffer from poor electron-hole separation and sluggish oxygen evolution dynamics, leading ...TiO2 photoanodes have aroused intensive research interest in photoelectrochemical （PEC） water splitting. However, they still suffer from poor electron-hole separation and sluggish oxygen evolution dynamics, leading to the low photoconversion efficiency and limiting commercial application. Here, we designed and fabricated novel ternary non-noble metal carbonate hydroxide （ZNC-CH） nanosheet cocatalysts and integrated them with TiO2 nanorod arrays as highly efficient photoanodes of PEC cells. Compared with the pristine TiO2, the photocurrent of photoanode with the optimal amount of ZNC-CH represents 3.2 times enhancement, and the onset potential is shifted toward the negative potential direction of 62 mV, The remarkable enhancement is attributed to the suppressed carrier recombination and enhanced charge transfer efficiency at the interface of TiO2, ZNC-CH and electrolyte, which is closely related to the zinc elements modulated intrinsic activity of catalysts. Our results demonstrate that the introduction of multimetallic ZNC-CH cocatalysts onto photoanodes is a promising strategy to improve the PEC efficiency.展开更多
g-C3N4 is a metal-free semiconductor and a potential candidate for photocatalytic H2 production,however,the drawbacks,rapid recombination rate and limited migration efficiency of photogenerated carriers,restrict its p...g-C3N4 is a metal-free semiconductor and a potential candidate for photocatalytic H2 production,however,the drawbacks,rapid recombination rate and limited migration efficiency of photogenerated carriers,restrict its photocatalytic activity.Herein,Co(II)as a hole cocatalyst modified P-doped g-C3N4 were successfully prepared to ameliorate the separation efficiency of photoinduced carriers and enhance the photocatalytic hydrogen production.The photocatalytic results demonstrated that the P-doped g-C3N4(PCN)exhibited higher photocatalytic activity compared with pure g-C3N4,while Co(II)/PCN photocatalyst exhibited further enhancement of photocatalytic performance.The proposed possible mechanism based on various characterizations is that P-doping can modulate the electronic structure of g-C3N4 to boost the separation of photogenerated-e-and h+;while the synergistic effect of both Co(II)(as hole cocatalyst)and Pt(as electron cocatalyst)can not only lead to the directional shunting of photogenerated e+-h?pairs,but further accelerate the photogenerated electrons transfer to Pt in order to join the photocatalytic reduction process for hydrogen evolution.As a result,the transportation and separation of photoinduced carriers were accelerated to greatest extent in the Pt/Co(II)/PCN photocatalyst.展开更多
Photocatalytic solar energy conversion to hydrogen is sustainable and attractive for addressing the global energy and environmental issue. Herein, a novel photocatalytic system (NiS/Ni3S4 cocatalysts modified mesoporo...Photocatalytic solar energy conversion to hydrogen is sustainable and attractive for addressing the global energy and environmental issue. Herein, a novel photocatalytic system (NiS/Ni3S4 cocatalysts modified mesoporous TiO2) with superior photocatalytic hydrogen evolution capability through the synergistic impact of NiS/Ni3S4 (NiSx) cocatalyst and efficient hole scavenger has been demonstrated. The photocatalytic hydrogen evolution of TiO2-NiSx hybrids with the different content of NiSx and upon different organic hole scavengers was both investigated. The hybrid of TiO2 decorated with 3%(mole ratio of Ni^2+) NiSx cocatalyst in methanol solution showed the optimal photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate of 981.59 μmol h^-1 g^-1 which was about 20 times higher than that of bare mesoporous TiO2. Our results suggested that the boosted hydrogen production performance is attributed to both the improved photoinduced electrons migration between NiS and Ni3S4 in cocatalyst and the high hole captured efficiency by hole scavengers of methanol.展开更多
Photocatalytic water splitting based on semiconductor photocatalysts is a promising approach for producing carbon‐neutral,sustainable,and clean H_(2) fuel.Cocatalyst loading,which is an appealing strategy,has been ex...Photocatalytic water splitting based on semiconductor photocatalysts is a promising approach for producing carbon‐neutral,sustainable,and clean H_(2) fuel.Cocatalyst loading,which is an appealing strategy,has been extensively employed to improve the photocatalytic efficiency semiconductors.In view of the high cost and rare preservation of noble metal cocatalysts that significantly hinder their utilization for large‐scale energy production,various cocatalysts comprising earth‐abundant ele‐ments have been developed as noble‐metal‐free candidates using different methods to boost pho‐tocatalytic water splitting.Among these preparation strategies,photodeposition has attracted tre‐mendous attention in the deposition of earth‐abundant cocatalysts owing to its simplicity and mod‐erate availability,improved interfacial charge separation and transfer,and abundant active sites on the surface.In this review,we first summarize the deposition principles,deposition advantages,categories of cocatalysts,roles of cocatalysts,influencing factors,modification strategies,and design considerations in the photodeposition of earth‐abundant cocatalysts.The photodeposited earth‐abundant cocatalysts for the photocatalytic H_(2) evolution half reaction,photocatalytic O_(2) evo‐lution half reaction,and overall photocatalytic water splitting are discussed.Finally,some perspec‐tives on the challenges and possible future directions for the photodeposition of earth‐abundant cocatalysts in photocatalytic water splitting are presented.展开更多
Investigation of the charge dynamics and roles of cocatalysts is crucial for understanding the reaction of photocatalytic water splitting on semiconductor photocatalysts.In this work,the dynamics of photogenerated ele...Investigation of the charge dynamics and roles of cocatalysts is crucial for understanding the reaction of photocatalytic water splitting on semiconductor photocatalysts.In this work,the dynamics of photogenerated electrons in Ga_(2)O_(3) loaded with Cr_(2)O_(3)-Rh cocatalysts was studied using time-resolved mid-infrared spectroscopy.The structure of these Cr_(2)O_(3)-Rh cocatalysts was identified with high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and CO adsorption Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy,as Rh particles partly covered with Cr_(2)O_(3).The decay dynamics of photogenerated electrons reveals that only the electrons trapped by the Rh particles efficiently participate in the H2 evolution reaction.The loaded Cr_(2)O_(3) promotes electron transfer from Ga_(2)O_(3) to Rh,which accelerates the electron-consuming reaction for H2 evolution.Based on these observations,a photocatalytic water-splitting mechanism for Cr_(2)O_(3)-Rh/Ga_(2)O_(3) photocatalysts has been proposed.The elucidation of the roles of the Cr_(2)O_(3)-Rh cocatalysts aids in further understanding the reaction mechanisms of photocatalytic water splitting and guiding the development of improved photocatalysts.展开更多
Conversion of carbon dioxide(CO_(2))into valuable chemicals and renewable fuels via photocatalysis represents an eco-friendly route to achieve the goal of carbon neutralization.Although various types of semiconductor ...Conversion of carbon dioxide(CO_(2))into valuable chemicals and renewable fuels via photocatalysis represents an eco-friendly route to achieve the goal of carbon neutralization.Although various types of semiconductor materials have been intensively explored,some severe issues,such as rapid charge recombination and sluggish redox reaction kinetics,remain.In this regard,cocatalyst modifi cation by trapping charges and boosting surface reactions is one of the most effi cient strategies to improve the effi ciency of semiconductor photocatalysts.This review focuses on recent advances in CO_(2)photoreduction over costeff ective and earth-abundant cobalt(Co)-based cocatalysts,which are competitive candidates of noble metals for practical applications.First,the functions of Co-based cocatalysts for promoting photocatalytic CO_(2)reduction are briefl y discussed.Then,diff erent kinds of Co-based cocatalysts,including cobalt oxides and hydroxides,cobalt nitrides and phosphides,cobalt sulfi des and selenides,Co single-atom,and Co-based metal–organic frameworks(MOFs),are summarized.The underlying mechanisms of these Co-based cocatalysts for facilitating CO_(2)adsorption–activation,boosting charge separation,and modulating intermediate formation are discussed in detail based on experimental characterizations and density functional theory calculations.In addition,the suppression of the competing hydrogen evolution reaction using Co-based cocatalysts to promote the product selectivity of CO_(2)reduction is highlighted in some selected examples.Finally,the challenges and future perspectives on constructing more effi cient Co-based cocatalysts for practical applications are proposed.展开更多
Cocatalyst plays key roles in photogenerated charge separation and surface catalytic reactions in photocatalysis.However,it is not clear if the chemical states of cocatalysts changed or remains unchanged under photoca...Cocatalyst plays key roles in photogenerated charge separation and surface catalytic reactions in photocatalysis.However,it is not clear if the chemical states of cocatalysts changed or remains unchanged under photocatalytic reaction conditions.Herein,taking NaTaO3 as an example,we systemically investigated the chemical states of nickel‐based cocatalysts during photocatalytic water splitting reaction.It was found that photo‐induced self‐formation of Ni and NiO cocatalyst species take place on the surface of NaTaO3 nanocrystals.The self‐formation of dual‐cocatalysts not only occurs on 26‐facet NaTaO3,but also takes place on a more general 6‐facet NaTaO3.Our work clarified that the chemical states of cocatalysts are changing and the redox dual‐cocatalysts are redistributed on the semiconductor surface owing to the reaction induced by photogenerated charges under the condition of photocatalytic reactions.展开更多
Taking copper doped ZnS(ZnS:Cu)nanocrystals as the main body of photocatalyst,the influence of different base transition metal ions(M^(2+)=Ni^(2+),Co^(2+),Fe^(2+)and Cd^(2+))on photocatalytic CO_(2)reduction in inorga...Taking copper doped ZnS(ZnS:Cu)nanocrystals as the main body of photocatalyst,the influence of different base transition metal ions(M^(2+)=Ni^(2+),Co^(2+),Fe^(2+)and Cd^(2+))on photocatalytic CO_(2)reduction in inorganic reaction system is investigated.Confined single-atom Ni^(2+),Co^(2+),and Cd^(2+)sites were created via cation-exchange process and enhanced CO_(2)reduction,while Fe^(2+)suppressed the photocatalytic activity for both water and CO_(2)reduction.The modified ZnS:Cu photocatalysts(M/ZnS:Cu)demonstrated tunable product selectivity,with Ni^(2+)and Co^(2+)showing high selectivity for syngas production and Cd^(2+)displaying remarkable formate selectivity.DFT calculations indicated favorable H adsorption free energy on Ni^(2+)and Co^(2+)sites,promoting the hydrogen evolution reaction.The selectivity of CO_(2)reduction products was found to be sensitive to the initial intermediate adsorption states.*COOH formed on Ni^(2+)and Co^(2+)while*OCHO formed on Cd^(2+),favoring the production of CO and HCOOH as the main products,respectively.This work provides valuable insights for developing efficient solar-to-fuel platforms with controlled CO_(2)reduction selectivity.展开更多
Anchoring molecular cocatalysts on semiconductors has been recognized as a general strategy to boost the charge separation efficiency required for efficient photocatalysis.However,the effect of molecular cocatalysts o...Anchoring molecular cocatalysts on semiconductors has been recognized as a general strategy to boost the charge separation efficiency required for efficient photocatalysis.However,the effect of molecular cocatalysts on energy funneling(i.e.,directional energy transfer)inside semiconductor photocatalysts has not been demonstrated yet.Here we prepared CdS nanorods with both thin and thick rods and anchored the conjugated molecules 2‐mercaptobenzimidazole(MBI)and cobalt molecular catalysts(MCoA)sequentially onto the surface of nanorods.Transient absorption measurements revealed that MBI molecules facilitated energy funneling from thin to thick rods by the electronic coupling between thin and thick nanorods,which is essentially a light‐harvesting antenna approach to enhance the charge generation efficiency in the reaction center(here the thick rods).Moreover,MBI and MCoA molecules selectively extracted photogenerated holes and electrons of CdS nanorods rapidly,leading to efficient charge separation.Consequently,CdS/MBI/MCoA displayed 15 times enhanced photocatalytic H_(2) evolution(1.65 mL)than pure CdS(0.11 mL)over 3 h of illumination.The amount of H_(2) evolution reached 60 mL over 48 h of illumination with a high turnover number of 26294 and an apparent quantum efficiency of 71%at 420 nm.This study demonstrates a novel design principle for next‐generation photocatalysts.展开更多
Facing the dual challenges of environmental pollution and energy crisis,photocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen(H_(2))production has emerged as a promising strategy to convert solar energy into storable chemical e...Facing the dual challenges of environmental pollution and energy crisis,photocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen(H_(2))production has emerged as a promising strategy to convert solar energy into storable chemical energy.In this work,the medium-entropy metal sulfides((FeCoNi)S_(2))as cocatalysts are successfully anchored onto protonated g-C_(3)N_(4)nanosheets(HCN NSs)to fabricated(FeCo-Ni)S_(2)-HCN composite via a solvothermal method.The photocatalytic hydrogen production rate of(FeCoNi)S_(2)-HCN composite reaches 2996μmol·h^(-1)·g^(-1),representing 83.22,9.16,and 1.34-fold enhancements compared to HCN(36μmol·h^(-1)·g^(-1)),FeS_(2)-HCN(327μmol·h^(-1)·g^(-1))and(FeCo)S_(2)-HCN(2240μmol·h^(-1)·g^(-1)).The apparent quantum efficiency of(FeCoNi)S_(2)-HCN composite attains 12.29% at λ=370 nm.Comprehensive characterizations and experimental analyses reveal that the superior photocatalytic performance stems from three synergistic mechanisms:(1)The curled-edge lamellar morphology of HCN nanosheets provides a large specific surface area,which enhances light absorption,facilitates electron transfer,and promotes cocatalyst loading.(2)(FeCoNi)S_(2)as cocatalyst expands the light absorption range and capacity,accelerates the separation and transfer of electron-hole pairs,and creates abundant active sites to trap photogenerated carriers for surface hydrogen evolution reactions.(3)The synergistic interactions among multiple metallic elements(Fe,Co and Ni)further enhance surface activity,increase photogenerated carrier density,and reduce charge transport resistance,ultimately optimizing hydrogen production efficiency.展开更多
文摘Photocatalytic hydrogen(H_(2))production using solar energy is a cutting-edge green technology that holds great potential for addressing the urgent fuel and environmental crises[1–3].To achieve high-efficiency H_(2) production,cocatalyst modification is commonly employed to provide active sites for the hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)[4,5].In this context,the kinetics of hydrogen adsorption and desorption at these active sites play a crucial role in enhancing overall photocatalytic H_(2) production efficiency.However,the H adsorption/desorption kinetics often exhibit a trade-off,presenting a significant challenge in achieving an optimal equilibrium between Hads and Hdes in many cocatalyst systems.Therefore,fine-tuning the active sites to optimize the H_(2) evolution kinetics is essential for improving photocatalytic activity[6].
基金Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.22178276,22178275,U22A20147,and 22075220)the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province of China(No.2022CFA001)。
文摘BiVO_(4)is an ideal photocatalysts for H_(2)O_(2)generation due to its suitable band edge.In practice,however,the photocatalytic performance of BiVO_(4)is substantially low owing to the slow kinetics of 2e^(-)O_(2)reduction(2e^(-)ORR)and water oxidation(WOR)processes.To solve the problems,in this work,the AuPd alloy cocatalyst and the NiOOH cocatalys were modified on the electron(010)facets and the(110)hole facet of BiVO_(4)by photodeposition method.The designed AuPd/BiVO_(4)/NiOOH(0.5%)photocatalyst showed prominent photocatalytic H_(2)O_(2)production activity of 289.3μmmol_·L^(-1)with an AQE value of 0.89%at 420 nm,which was increased by 40 times compared with the BiVO_(4)sample(7.1μmmol_?L^(-1)).The outstanding photocatalytic activity of the AuPd/BiVO_(4)/NiOOH photocatalyst can be attributed to the synergistic effect of AuPd and NiOOH cocatalysts,which promoted the kinetics of oxygen reduction and water oxidation,and concurrently facilitated the charge separation.The present strategy of dual-cocatalyst rational assembly on different facets of BiVO_(4)provides an insight into explore efficient BiVO_(4)-based materials for H_(2)O_(2)production.
文摘Layered transition metal hydroxides show distinct advantages in separately co-catalyzing CO_(2)reduction and H_(2)O oxidation at the electron-accumulating and hole-accumulating sites of wrapped heterojunction photocatalysts,while concurrently preventing side reactions and photocorrosion on the semiconductor surface.Herein,Ni-Co bimetallic hydroxides with varying Ni/Co molar ratios(Ni_(x)Co_(1-x)(OH)_(2),x=1,0.75,0.5,0.25,and 0)were grown in situ on a model 2D/2D S-scheme heterojunction composed of Cu_(2)O nanosheets and Fe_(2)O_(3)nanoplates to form a series of Cu_(2)O/Fe_(2)O_(3)@Ni_(x)Co_(1-x)(OH)_(2)(CF@NiCo)photocatalysts.The combined experimental and theoretical investigation demonstrates that incorporating an appropriate amount of Co into Ni(OH)_(2)not only modulates the energy band structure of Ni_(x)Co_(1-x)(OH)_(2),balances the electron-and hole-trapping abilities of the bifunctional cocatalyst and maximizes the charge separation efficiency of the heterojunction,but also regulates the d-band center of Ni_(x)Co_(1-x)(OH)_(2),reinforcing the adsorption and activation of CO_(2)and H_(2)O on the cocatalyst surface and lowering the rate-limiting barriers in the CO_(2)-to-CO and H_(2)O-to-O_(2)conversion.Benefiting from the Ni-Co synergy,the redox reactions proceed stoichiometrically.The optimized CF@Ni_(0.75)Co_(0.25)achieves CO and O_(2)yields of 552.7 and 313.0μmol gcat^(-1)h^(-1),respectively,11.3/9.9,1.6/1.7,and 4.5/5.9-fold higher than those of CF,CF@Ni,and CF@Co.This study offers valuable insights into the design of bifunctional noble-metal-free cocatalysts for high-performance artificial photosynthesis.
基金supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF)funded by the Korean government (2021R1A4A3027878,2022M3H4A1A01012712)。
文摘Photoelectrochemical(PEC)energy conversion has emerged as a promising and efficient approach to sustainable energy harvesting and storage.By utilizing semiconductor photoelectrodes,PEC devices can harness solar energy and drive electrochemical reactions such as water splitting or carbon dioxide(CO_(2))reduction to generate clean fuels and value-added chemicals.However,PEC energy conversion faces several challenges such as high overpotential,sluggish reaction kinetics,charge carrier recombination,and stability issues,which limit its practical implementation.Recently,significant research has been conducted to improve the overall conversion efficiency of PEC devices.One particularly promising approach is the use of cocatalysts,which involves introducing specific cocatalysts onto the photoelectrode surface to promote charge separation,improve reaction kinetics,and reduce the overpotential,thereby enhancing the overall performance of PEC energy conversion.This review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent developments in the earth-abundant cocatalysts for PEC water splitting and CO_(2) reduction.The main earth-abundant catalysts for the PEC water splitting include transition-metal dichalcogenide(TMD)-based materials,metal phosphides/carbides,and metal oxides/hydroxides.Meanwhile,PEC-CO_(2)RR was divided into C_(1) and C_(2+)based on the final product since various products could be produced,focusing on diverse earth-abundant materials-based cocatalysts.In addition,we provide and highlight key advancements achieved in the very recent reports on novel PEC system design engineering with cocatalysts.Finally,the current problems associated with PEC systems are discussed along with a suggested direction to overcome these obstacles.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foun-dation of China(Nos.22178275 and U22A20147)the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province of China(No.2022CFA001).
文摘In addition to the electron transfer,the appropriate H-adsorption affinity of active centers on the metal cocatalyst surface is quite important for high hydrogen-production activity of cocatalyst-modified photo-catalysts.The typical Cu and Ru metal cocatalysts clearly exhibit a weak Cu-H bond and a strong Ru-H bond,respectively,resulting in limited activity for photocatalytic H_(2)evolution.In this work,an ingenious strategy of self-optimized H-adsorption affinity in CuRu alloy cocatalyst is developed to simultaneously reinforce the Cu-H bond and weaken the Ru-H bond by the intrinsic electron transfer from Cu to Ru atom.The CuRu alloy nanoparticles(2-3 nm)were deposited on the TiO_(2)surface to prepare CuRu/TiO_(2)through a one-step photoreduction method.Photocatalytic tests exhibited that the highest H_(2)-production rate of CuRu/TiO_(2)photocatalyst reached up to 5.316 mmol h^(-1)g^(-1),which was 24.80,1.86,and 2.60 times higher than that of the TiO_(2),Cu/TiO_(2),and Ru/TiO_(2),respectively.Based on the characterization results and theoretical calculations,the CuRu alloy cocatalyst exhibits excellent self-optimized H-adsorption affinity via the spontaneous electron transfer from Cu to Ru atom,which can greatly accelerate the photocatalytic H_(2)-production rate of TiO_(2).This work provides a feasible idea for the self-optimized H-adsorption affinity of metal active sites in the photocatalytic H_(2)-generation field.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51672089)the Industry and Research Collaborative Innovation Major Projects of Guangzhou (201508020098)+1 种基金the State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Material Synthesis and Processing (Wuhan University of Technology) (2015-KF-7)the Hunan Key Laboratory of Applied Environmental Photocatalysis (Changsha University) (CCSU-XT-04)~~
文摘Novel WO3/g-C3N4/Ni（OH）x hybrids have been successfully synthesized by a two-step strategy of high temperature calcination and in situ photodeposition.Their photocatalytic performance was investigated using TEOA as a hole scavenger under visible light irradiation.The loading of WO3 and Ni（OH）x cocatalysts boosted the photocatalytic H2 evolution efficiency of g-C3N4.WO3/g-C3N4/Ni（OH）x with 20 wt%defective WO3 and 4.8 wt%Ni（OH）x showed the highest hydrogen production rate of 576 μmol/（g·h）,which was 5.7,10.8 and 230 times higher than those of g-C3N4/4.8 wt%Ni（OH）x,20 wt%WO3/C3N4 and g-C3N4 photocatalysts,respectively.The remarkably enhanced H2 evolution performance was ascribed to the combination effects of the Z-scheme heterojunction（WO3/g-C3N4） and loaded cocatalysts（Ni（OH）x）,which effectively inhibited the recombination of the photoexcited electron-hole pairs of g-C3N4 and improved both H2 evolution and TEOA oxidation kinetics.The electron spin resonance spectra of ·O2^- and ·OH radicals provided evidence for the Z-scheme charge separation mechanism.The loading of easily available Ni（OH）x cocatalysts on the Z-scheme WO3/g-C3N4 nanocomposites provided insights into constructing a robust multiple-heterojunction material for photocatalytic applications.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.21975084 and 51672089)the Guangdong Provincial Applied Science and Technology Research and Development Program(No.2017B020238005)+2 种基金the Ding Ying Talent Project of South China Agricultural University for their supportthe Hong Kong Research Grant Council(RGC)General Research Fund(No.GRF1305419)for financial supportthe National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.51972287 and 51502269)。
文摘Owing to their unique physicochemical,optical and electrical properties,two-dimensional(2D)MoS_(2) cocatalysts have been widely applied in designing and developing highly efficient composite photocatalysts for hydrogen generation under suitable light irradiation.In this review,we first elaborated on the fundamental aspects of 2D MoS_(2) cocatalysts to include the structural design principles,synthesis strategies,strengths and challenges.Subsequently,we thoroughly highlighted and discussed the modification strategies of 2D MoS_(2) H2-evolution cocatalysts,including doping heteroatoms(e.g.metals,non-metals,and co-doping),designing interfacial coupling morphologies,controlling the physical properties(e.g.thickness,size,structural defects or pores),exposing the reactive facets or edge sites,constructing cocatalyst heterojunctions,engineering the interfacial bonds and confinement effects.In the future,the forefront challenges in understanding and in precise controlling of the active sites at molecular level or atomic level should be carefully studied,while various potential mechanisms of photogenerated-electrons interactions should be proposed.The applications of MoS_(2) cocatalyst in the overall water splitting are also expected.This review may offer new inspiration for designing and constructing novel and efficient MoS_(2)-based composite photocatalysts for highly efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(51572295,21273285 and 21003157)Beijing Nova Program(2008B76)Science Foundation of China University of Petroleum,Beijing(KYJJ2012-06-20 and 2462016YXBS05)~~
文摘Photocatalytic hydrogen(H2)evolution via water spilling over semiconductors has been considered to be one of the most promising strategies for sustainable energy supply in the future to provide non-pollution and renewable energy.The key to efficient conversion of solar-chemical energy is the design of an efficient structure for high charge separation and transportation.Therefore,cocatalysts are necessary in boosting photocatalytic H2 evolution.To date,semiconductor photocatalysts have been modified by various cocatalysts due to the extended light harvest,enhanced charge carrier separation efficiency and improved stability.This review focuses on recent developments of cocatalysts in photocatalytic H2 evolution,the roles and mechanism of the cocatalysts are discussed in detail.The cocatalysts can be divided into the following categories:metal/alloy cocatalysts,metal phosphides cocatalysts,metal oxide/hydroxide cocatalysts,carbon-based cocatalysts,dual cocatalysts,Z-scheme cocatalysts and MOFs cocatalysts.The future research and forecast for photocatalytic hydrogen generation are also suggested.
基金supprted by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(51672089,51672099)Specical Funding on Applied Science and Technology in Guangdong(2017B020238005)the State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Material Synthesis and Processing(Wuhan University of Technology)(2015-KF-7)~~
文摘Photocatalysis is believed to be one of the best methods to realize sustainable H2 production. However, achieving this through heterogeneous photocatalysis still remains a great challenge owing to the absence of active sites, sluggish surface reaction kinetics, insufficient charge separation, and a high thermodynamic barrier. Therefore, cocatalysts are necessary and of great significance in boosting photocatalytic H2 generation. This review will focus on the promising and appealing low-cost Ni-based H2-generation cocatalysts as the alternatives for the high-cost and low-abundance noble metal cocatalysts. Special emphasis has been placed on the design principle, modification strategies for further enhancing the activity and stability of Ni-based cocatalysts, and identification of the exact active sites and surface reaction mechanisms. Particularly, four types of modification strategies based on increased light harvesting, enhanced charge separation, strengthened interface interaction, and improved electrocatalytic activity have been thoroughly discussed and compared in detail. This review may open a new avenue for designing highly active and durable Ni-based cocatalysts for photocatalytic H2 generation.
基金the National Science Foundation of China(Nos.22005228 and 52063028)。
文摘Photocatalytic Hproduction from water splitting has a promising prospect for alleviating energy and environmental issues.However,the fast recombination of photogenerated charge carriers limits the photocatalytic efficiency and its practical application.Cocatalyst engineering is an effective strategy to spatially separate photogenerated charge carriers.In this work,noble-metal-free MoSand CoOcocatalysts are loaded on CdS nanorods by a two-step photodeposition method.The MoSfunctions as the reduction cocatalyst to trap electrons and Co Oas the oxidation cocatalyst to trap holes.Transmission electron microscopy(TEM),inductively coupled plasma(ICP),X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS)and MottSchottky results demonstrate the effectiveness of photodeposition for loading MoSand CoOdual cocatalysts on CdS and their impact on the photochemical properties.The optimized CdS-MoS-CoOcomposite exhibits a high photocatalytic H-production rate of 7.4 mmol g^(-1)h^(-1)and an apparent quantum efficiency(QE)of 7.6%at 420 nm.Further analysis on time-resolved photoluminescence(TRPL)indicates that the introduction of dual cocatalysts greatly prolongs the lifetime of photogenerated charge carriers and deceases the charge recombination rates,consequently leading to superior photocatalytic H-production performance.This work provides a facile and effective strategy for the construction of highly efficient dual-cocatalyst-modified CdS photocatalyst for high-performance photocatalytic Hproduction.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.51772197,51422206,51372159)the1000 Youth Talents Plan,the Key University Science Research Project of Jiangsu Province(17KJA430013)+1 种基金the 333 High-level Talents Cultivation Project of Jiangsu Province,Six Talents Peak Project of Jiangsu Province,Distinguished Young Scholars Foundation by Jiangsu Science and Technology Committee(BK20140009)Funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions(PAPD)
文摘TiO2 photoanodes have aroused intensive research interest in photoelectrochemical （PEC） water splitting. However, they still suffer from poor electron-hole separation and sluggish oxygen evolution dynamics, leading to the low photoconversion efficiency and limiting commercial application. Here, we designed and fabricated novel ternary non-noble metal carbonate hydroxide （ZNC-CH） nanosheet cocatalysts and integrated them with TiO2 nanorod arrays as highly efficient photoanodes of PEC cells. Compared with the pristine TiO2, the photocurrent of photoanode with the optimal amount of ZNC-CH represents 3.2 times enhancement, and the onset potential is shifted toward the negative potential direction of 62 mV, The remarkable enhancement is attributed to the suppressed carrier recombination and enhanced charge transfer efficiency at the interface of TiO2, ZNC-CH and electrolyte, which is closely related to the zinc elements modulated intrinsic activity of catalysts. Our results demonstrate that the introduction of multimetallic ZNC-CH cocatalysts onto photoanodes is a promising strategy to improve the PEC efficiency.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(51672113)QingLan Project Foundation of Jiangsu Province(201611)~~
文摘g-C3N4 is a metal-free semiconductor and a potential candidate for photocatalytic H2 production,however,the drawbacks,rapid recombination rate and limited migration efficiency of photogenerated carriers,restrict its photocatalytic activity.Herein,Co(II)as a hole cocatalyst modified P-doped g-C3N4 were successfully prepared to ameliorate the separation efficiency of photoinduced carriers and enhance the photocatalytic hydrogen production.The photocatalytic results demonstrated that the P-doped g-C3N4(PCN)exhibited higher photocatalytic activity compared with pure g-C3N4,while Co(II)/PCN photocatalyst exhibited further enhancement of photocatalytic performance.The proposed possible mechanism based on various characterizations is that P-doping can modulate the electronic structure of g-C3N4 to boost the separation of photogenerated-e-and h+;while the synergistic effect of both Co(II)(as hole cocatalyst)and Pt(as electron cocatalyst)can not only lead to the directional shunting of photogenerated e+-h?pairs,but further accelerate the photogenerated electrons transfer to Pt in order to join the photocatalytic reduction process for hydrogen evolution.As a result,the transportation and separation of photoinduced carriers were accelerated to greatest extent in the Pt/Co(II)/PCN photocatalyst.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(21501137)the Hubei Natural Science Foundation for financial support(2018CFB680)Support from the Australian Research Council(ARC)through ARC Discovery projects(DP130102699,DP 130102274,DP160102627)
文摘Photocatalytic solar energy conversion to hydrogen is sustainable and attractive for addressing the global energy and environmental issue. Herein, a novel photocatalytic system (NiS/Ni3S4 cocatalysts modified mesoporous TiO2) with superior photocatalytic hydrogen evolution capability through the synergistic impact of NiS/Ni3S4 (NiSx) cocatalyst and efficient hole scavenger has been demonstrated. The photocatalytic hydrogen evolution of TiO2-NiSx hybrids with the different content of NiSx and upon different organic hole scavengers was both investigated. The hybrid of TiO2 decorated with 3%(mole ratio of Ni^2+) NiSx cocatalyst in methanol solution showed the optimal photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate of 981.59 μmol h^-1 g^-1 which was about 20 times higher than that of bare mesoporous TiO2. Our results suggested that the boosted hydrogen production performance is attributed to both the improved photoinduced electrons migration between NiS and Ni3S4 in cocatalyst and the high hole captured efficiency by hole scavengers of methanol.
文摘Photocatalytic water splitting based on semiconductor photocatalysts is a promising approach for producing carbon‐neutral,sustainable,and clean H_(2) fuel.Cocatalyst loading,which is an appealing strategy,has been extensively employed to improve the photocatalytic efficiency semiconductors.In view of the high cost and rare preservation of noble metal cocatalysts that significantly hinder their utilization for large‐scale energy production,various cocatalysts comprising earth‐abundant ele‐ments have been developed as noble‐metal‐free candidates using different methods to boost pho‐tocatalytic water splitting.Among these preparation strategies,photodeposition has attracted tre‐mendous attention in the deposition of earth‐abundant cocatalysts owing to its simplicity and mod‐erate availability,improved interfacial charge separation and transfer,and abundant active sites on the surface.In this review,we first summarize the deposition principles,deposition advantages,categories of cocatalysts,roles of cocatalysts,influencing factors,modification strategies,and design considerations in the photodeposition of earth‐abundant cocatalysts.The photodeposited earth‐abundant cocatalysts for the photocatalytic H_(2) evolution half reaction,photocatalytic O_(2) evo‐lution half reaction,and overall photocatalytic water splitting are discussed.Finally,some perspec‐tives on the challenges and possible future directions for the photodeposition of earth‐abundant cocatalysts in photocatalytic water splitting are presented.
文摘Investigation of the charge dynamics and roles of cocatalysts is crucial for understanding the reaction of photocatalytic water splitting on semiconductor photocatalysts.In this work,the dynamics of photogenerated electrons in Ga_(2)O_(3) loaded with Cr_(2)O_(3)-Rh cocatalysts was studied using time-resolved mid-infrared spectroscopy.The structure of these Cr_(2)O_(3)-Rh cocatalysts was identified with high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and CO adsorption Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy,as Rh particles partly covered with Cr_(2)O_(3).The decay dynamics of photogenerated electrons reveals that only the electrons trapped by the Rh particles efficiently participate in the H2 evolution reaction.The loaded Cr_(2)O_(3) promotes electron transfer from Ga_(2)O_(3) to Rh,which accelerates the electron-consuming reaction for H2 evolution.Based on these observations,a photocatalytic water-splitting mechanism for Cr_(2)O_(3)-Rh/Ga_(2)O_(3) photocatalysts has been proposed.The elucidation of the roles of the Cr_(2)O_(3)-Rh cocatalysts aids in further understanding the reaction mechanisms of photocatalytic water splitting and guiding the development of improved photocatalysts.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.21905049,22178057)the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province(Nos.2020J01201,2021J01197)+1 种基金the Research Foundation of the Academy of Carbon Neutrality of Fujian Normal University(TZH2022-07)the Award Program for Minjiang Scholar Professorship。
文摘Conversion of carbon dioxide(CO_(2))into valuable chemicals and renewable fuels via photocatalysis represents an eco-friendly route to achieve the goal of carbon neutralization.Although various types of semiconductor materials have been intensively explored,some severe issues,such as rapid charge recombination and sluggish redox reaction kinetics,remain.In this regard,cocatalyst modifi cation by trapping charges and boosting surface reactions is one of the most effi cient strategies to improve the effi ciency of semiconductor photocatalysts.This review focuses on recent advances in CO_(2)photoreduction over costeff ective and earth-abundant cobalt(Co)-based cocatalysts,which are competitive candidates of noble metals for practical applications.First,the functions of Co-based cocatalysts for promoting photocatalytic CO_(2)reduction are briefl y discussed.Then,diff erent kinds of Co-based cocatalysts,including cobalt oxides and hydroxides,cobalt nitrides and phosphides,cobalt sulfi des and selenides,Co single-atom,and Co-based metal–organic frameworks(MOFs),are summarized.The underlying mechanisms of these Co-based cocatalysts for facilitating CO_(2)adsorption–activation,boosting charge separation,and modulating intermediate formation are discussed in detail based on experimental characterizations and density functional theory calculations.In addition,the suppression of the competing hydrogen evolution reaction using Co-based cocatalysts to promote the product selectivity of CO_(2)reduction is highlighted in some selected examples.Finally,the challenges and future perspectives on constructing more effi cient Co-based cocatalysts for practical applications are proposed.
文摘Cocatalyst plays key roles in photogenerated charge separation and surface catalytic reactions in photocatalysis.However,it is not clear if the chemical states of cocatalysts changed or remains unchanged under photocatalytic reaction conditions.Herein,taking NaTaO3 as an example,we systemically investigated the chemical states of nickel‐based cocatalysts during photocatalytic water splitting reaction.It was found that photo‐induced self‐formation of Ni and NiO cocatalyst species take place on the surface of NaTaO3 nanocrystals.The self‐formation of dual‐cocatalysts not only occurs on 26‐facet NaTaO3,but also takes place on a more general 6‐facet NaTaO3.Our work clarified that the chemical states of cocatalysts are changing and the redox dual‐cocatalysts are redistributed on the semiconductor surface owing to the reaction induced by photogenerated charges under the condition of photocatalytic reactions.
基金financial support from the Tangshan Talent Funding Project(A202202007)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(21703065)+3 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province(B2018209267)the World Premier International Research Center Initiative(WPI Initiative)on Materials Nanoarchitectonics(MANA),the MEXT(Japan)the Photoexcitonix Project in Hokkaido Universitythe JSPS KAKENHI(Grant Number JP18H02065)。
文摘Taking copper doped ZnS(ZnS:Cu)nanocrystals as the main body of photocatalyst,the influence of different base transition metal ions(M^(2+)=Ni^(2+),Co^(2+),Fe^(2+)and Cd^(2+))on photocatalytic CO_(2)reduction in inorganic reaction system is investigated.Confined single-atom Ni^(2+),Co^(2+),and Cd^(2+)sites were created via cation-exchange process and enhanced CO_(2)reduction,while Fe^(2+)suppressed the photocatalytic activity for both water and CO_(2)reduction.The modified ZnS:Cu photocatalysts(M/ZnS:Cu)demonstrated tunable product selectivity,with Ni^(2+)and Co^(2+)showing high selectivity for syngas production and Cd^(2+)displaying remarkable formate selectivity.DFT calculations indicated favorable H adsorption free energy on Ni^(2+)and Co^(2+)sites,promoting the hydrogen evolution reaction.The selectivity of CO_(2)reduction products was found to be sensitive to the initial intermediate adsorption states.*COOH formed on Ni^(2+)and Co^(2+)while*OCHO formed on Cd^(2+),favoring the production of CO and HCOOH as the main products,respectively.This work provides valuable insights for developing efficient solar-to-fuel platforms with controlled CO_(2)reduction selectivity.
文摘Anchoring molecular cocatalysts on semiconductors has been recognized as a general strategy to boost the charge separation efficiency required for efficient photocatalysis.However,the effect of molecular cocatalysts on energy funneling(i.e.,directional energy transfer)inside semiconductor photocatalysts has not been demonstrated yet.Here we prepared CdS nanorods with both thin and thick rods and anchored the conjugated molecules 2‐mercaptobenzimidazole(MBI)and cobalt molecular catalysts(MCoA)sequentially onto the surface of nanorods.Transient absorption measurements revealed that MBI molecules facilitated energy funneling from thin to thick rods by the electronic coupling between thin and thick nanorods,which is essentially a light‐harvesting antenna approach to enhance the charge generation efficiency in the reaction center(here the thick rods).Moreover,MBI and MCoA molecules selectively extracted photogenerated holes and electrons of CdS nanorods rapidly,leading to efficient charge separation.Consequently,CdS/MBI/MCoA displayed 15 times enhanced photocatalytic H_(2) evolution(1.65 mL)than pure CdS(0.11 mL)over 3 h of illumination.The amount of H_(2) evolution reached 60 mL over 48 h of illumination with a high turnover number of 26294 and an apparent quantum efficiency of 71%at 420 nm.This study demonstrates a novel design principle for next‐generation photocatalysts.
文摘Facing the dual challenges of environmental pollution and energy crisis,photocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen(H_(2))production has emerged as a promising strategy to convert solar energy into storable chemical energy.In this work,the medium-entropy metal sulfides((FeCoNi)S_(2))as cocatalysts are successfully anchored onto protonated g-C_(3)N_(4)nanosheets(HCN NSs)to fabricated(FeCo-Ni)S_(2)-HCN composite via a solvothermal method.The photocatalytic hydrogen production rate of(FeCoNi)S_(2)-HCN composite reaches 2996μmol·h^(-1)·g^(-1),representing 83.22,9.16,and 1.34-fold enhancements compared to HCN(36μmol·h^(-1)·g^(-1)),FeS_(2)-HCN(327μmol·h^(-1)·g^(-1))and(FeCo)S_(2)-HCN(2240μmol·h^(-1)·g^(-1)).The apparent quantum efficiency of(FeCoNi)S_(2)-HCN composite attains 12.29% at λ=370 nm.Comprehensive characterizations and experimental analyses reveal that the superior photocatalytic performance stems from three synergistic mechanisms:(1)The curled-edge lamellar morphology of HCN nanosheets provides a large specific surface area,which enhances light absorption,facilitates electron transfer,and promotes cocatalyst loading.(2)(FeCoNi)S_(2)as cocatalyst expands the light absorption range and capacity,accelerates the separation and transfer of electron-hole pairs,and creates abundant active sites to trap photogenerated carriers for surface hydrogen evolution reactions.(3)The synergistic interactions among multiple metallic elements(Fe,Co and Ni)further enhance surface activity,increase photogenerated carrier density,and reduce charge transport resistance,ultimately optimizing hydrogen production efficiency.
