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Zi Y, Hu Y, Pu J, Wang M, Huang W. Recent Progress in Interface Engineering of Nanostructures for Photoelectrochemical Energy Harvesting Applications. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2208274. [PMID: 36776020 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202208274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
With rapid and continuous consumption of nonrenewable energy, solar energy can be utilized to meet the energy requirement and mitigate environmental issues in the future. To attain a sustainable society with an energy mix predominately dependent on solar energy, photoelectrochemical (PEC) device, in which semiconductor nanostructure-based photocatalysts play important roles, is considered to be one of the most promising candidates to realize the sufficient utilization of solar energy in a low-cost, green, and environmentally friendly manner. Interface engineering of semiconductor nanostructures has been qualified in the efficient improvement of PEC performances including three basic steps, i.e., light absorption, charge transfer/separation, and surface catalytic reaction. In this review, recently developed interface engineering of semiconductor nanostructures for direct and high-efficiency conversion of sunlight into available forms (e.g., chemical fuels and electric power) are summarized in terms of their atomic constitution and morphology, electronic structure and promising potential for PEC applications. Extensive efforts toward the development of high-performance PEC applications (e.g., PEC water splitting, PEC photodetection, PEC catalysis, PEC degradation and PEC biosensors) are also presented and appraised. Last but not least, a brief summary and personal insights on the challenges and future directions in the community of next-generation PEC devices are also provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- You Zi
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226019, P. R. China
| | - Yi Hu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226019, P. R. China
| | - Junmei Pu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226019, P. R. China
| | - Mengke Wang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226019, P. R. China
| | - Weichun Huang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226019, P. R. China
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Ganesh PS, Govindasamy M, Kim SY, Choi DS, Ko HU, Alshgari RA, Huang CH. Synergetic effects of Mo 2C sphere/SCN nanocatalysts interface for nanomolar detection of uric acid and folic acid in presence of interferences. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 253:114694. [PMID: 36857924 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Till to date, the application of sulfur-doped graphitic carbon nitride supported transition metal carbide interface for electrochemical sensor fabrication was less explored. In this work, we designed a simple synthesis of molybdenum carbide sphere embedded sulfur doped graphitic carbon nitride (Mo2C/SCN) catalyst for the nanomolar electrochemical sensor application. The synthesized Mo2C/SCN nanocatalyst was systematically characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with elemental mapping. The SEM images show that the porous SCN network adhered uniformly on Mo2C, causing a loss of crystallinity in the diffractogram. The corresponding elemental mapping of Mo2C/SCN shows distinct peaks for carbon (41.47%), nitrogen (32.54%), sulfur (1.37%), and molybdenum (24.62%) with no additional impurity peaks, reflecting the successful synthesis. Later, the glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was modified by Mo2C/SCN nanocatalyst for simultaneous sensing of uric acid (UA) and folic acid (FA). The fabricated Mo2C/SCN/GCE is capable of simultaneous and interference free electrochemical detection of UA and FA in a binary mixture. The limit of detection (LOD) calculated at Mo2C/SCN/GCE for UA and FA was 21.5 nM (0.09 - 47.0 μM) and 14.7 nM (0.09 - 167.25 μM) respectively by differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) technique. The presence of interferons has no significant effect on the sensor's performance, making it suitable for real sample analysis. The present method can be extended to fabricate an electrochemical sensor for various molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pattan-Siddappa Ganesh
- Interaction Laboratory, Future Convergence Engineering, Advanced Technology Research Center, Korea University of Technology and Education, Cheonan-si 31253, Chungcheongnam-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Mani Govindasamy
- Department of Materials Engineering, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei City 24301, Taiwan; Full-time faculty, International PhD Program in Innovative Technology of Biomedical Engineering and Medical Devices, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei City, 243303, Taiwan; Department of Research and Innovation, Saveetha School of Engineering, SIMATS, Chennai 602105, India
| | - Sang-Youn Kim
- Interaction Laboratory, Future Convergence Engineering, Advanced Technology Research Center, Korea University of Technology and Education, Cheonan-si 31253, Chungcheongnam-do, Republic of Korea.
| | - Dong-Soo Choi
- Smart Interface and Extended Reality Laboratory, Department of Computer Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Gumi 39177, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-U Ko
- Interaction Laboratory, Future Convergence Engineering, Advanced Technology Research Center, Korea University of Technology and Education, Cheonan-si 31253, Chungcheongnam-do, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Chi-Hsien Huang
- Department of Materials Engineering, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei City 24301, Taiwan.
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Biswas A, Ghosh B, Dey RS. Refining the Spectroscopic Detection Technique: A Pivot in the Electrochemical Ammonia Synthesis. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:3810-3820. [PMID: 36854657 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c00201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Ammonia has been recognized as the future fuel because of its immense advantages over liquid hydrogen. The research trend nowadays is mostly inclined toward the electrochemical ammonia synthesis since it offers a sustainable method of green ammonia production. The indophenol blue method is one of the largely used colorimetric techniques to detect ammonia spectroscopically but lacks a proper experimental protocol. The unresolved speculations related to this method concerning stability of dye, sequence of mixing of reagents, importance of pH in the dye formation, or sensitivity of the method to interferants need vigorous experimental verification and a legitimate protocol has to be set up for a reliable and reproducible data. This work thus aims to unveil the artefacts of this method and explore the mechanisms involved such that it becomes easy for a newcomer as well as existing researchers in the field to understand the requirement of rigorous optimizations in this technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashmita Biswas
- Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Sector-81, Mohali, 140306 Punjab, India
| | - Bikram Ghosh
- Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Sector-81, Mohali, 140306 Punjab, India
| | - Ramendra Sundar Dey
- Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Sector-81, Mohali, 140306 Punjab, India
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Photoelectrochemical nitrogen reduction: A step toward achieving sustainable ammonia synthesis. CHINESE JOURNAL OF CATALYSIS 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/s1872-2067(21)64001-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Zeng L, Qiao Z, Peng X, Liu Z, Li Z, Yang B, Lei L, Wu G, Hou Y. Progress in Mo/W-based electrocatalysts for nitrogen reduction to ammonia under ambient conditions. Chem Commun (Camb) 2022; 58:2096-2111. [PMID: 35048091 DOI: 10.1039/d1cc06665j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Ammonia (NH3), possessing high hydrogen content and energy density, has been widely employed for fertilizers and value-added chemicals in green energy carriers and fuels. However, the current NH3 synthesis largely depends on the traditional Haber-Bosch process, which needs tremendous energy consumption and generates greenhouse gas, resulting in severe energy and environmental issues. The electrochemical strategy of converting N2 to NH3 under mild conditions is a potentially promising route to realize an environmentally friendly concept. Among various catalysts, molybdenum/tungsten-based electrocatalysts have been widely used in electrochemical catalytic and energy conversion. This review describes the latest progress of molybdenum/tungsten-based electrocatalysts for the electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction. The fundamental roles of morphology, doping, defects, heterojunction, and coupling regulation in improving electrocatalytic performance are mainly discussed. Besides, some tailoring strategies for enhancing the conversion efficiency of N2 to NH3 over Mo/W-based electrocatalysts are also summarized. Finally, the existing challenges and limitations of N2 fixation are proposed, as well as possible future perspectives, which will provide a platform for further development of advanced Mo/W-based N2 reduction systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Libin Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China. .,Institute of Zhejiang University-Quzhou, Quzhou 324000, China
| | - Zhi Qiao
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA.
| | - Xianyun Peng
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China. .,Institute of Zhejiang University-Quzhou, Quzhou 324000, China
| | - Zhibin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China. .,Institute of Zhejiang University-Quzhou, Quzhou 324000, China
| | - Zhongjian Li
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China. .,Institute of Zhejiang University-Quzhou, Quzhou 324000, China
| | - Bin Yang
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China. .,Institute of Zhejiang University-Quzhou, Quzhou 324000, China
| | - Lecheng Lei
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China. .,Institute of Zhejiang University-Quzhou, Quzhou 324000, China
| | - Gang Wu
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA.
| | - Yang Hou
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China. .,Institute of Zhejiang University-Quzhou, Quzhou 324000, China.,School of Biological and Chemical Engineering NingboTech University, No. 1 South Qianhu Road, Ningbo, 315100, China
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Sultana S, Paramanik L, Mansingh S, Parida K. Robust Photoelectrochemical Route for the Ambient Fixation of Dinitrogen into Ammonia over a Nanojunction Assembled from Ceria and an Iron Boride/Phosphide Cocatalyst. Inorg Chem 2021; 61:131-140. [PMID: 34936349 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.1c02504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The nitrogen reduction reaction is of great scientific significance as a hydrogen fuel carrier as well as a source of value-added products; in context to this, photoelectrochemical (PEC) nitrogen fixation emerges as an effective and environmentally benign strategy to meet the need. Hence, the current work reports an effective catalytic system containing a low-cost iron boride-based cocatalyst onto the CeO2 nanosheet matrix for photoelectrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction. The harmonized electronic property and the ensemble effect of phosphorus and boron in FeB/P with unsaturated metal sites make it a site-selective cocatalyst for nitrogen adsorption and its polarization. Furthermore, the low Fermi level of iron borophosphide enhances the trapping of photogenerated electrons from CeO2 and productively provides it to the adsorbed nitrogen species. The observed peculiar photocurrent behavior confirms the interaction of photogenerated electrons with adsorbed nitrogen species and its subsequent reduction by the surrounding protonic environment. The optimized CeO2-FeB/P photoelectrocatalyst exhibited an excellent NH3 yield velocity, i.e., 9.54 μg/h/cm2 at -0.12 V vs RHE with a solar-to-chemical conversion efficiency of 0.046% under ambient conditions. The same catalyst is also very active under near-zero biasing conditions and possesses impressive durability even after multiple uses. This work might strategically direct a promising way for the exploration of new photoelectrocatalytic systems for effective PEC-nitrogen reduction reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabiha Sultana
- Centre for Nano Science and Nano Technology, SOA Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar 751 030, Odisha, India
| | - Lekha Paramanik
- Centre for Nano Science and Nano Technology, SOA Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar 751 030, Odisha, India
| | - Sriram Mansingh
- Centre for Nano Science and Nano Technology, SOA Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar 751 030, Odisha, India
| | - Kulamani Parida
- Centre for Nano Science and Nano Technology, SOA Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar 751 030, Odisha, India
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Bi 2S 3 quantum dots in situ grown on MoS 2 nanoflowers: An efficient electron-rich interface for photoelectrochemical N 2 reduction. J Colloid Interface Sci 2021; 611:294-305. [PMID: 34954605 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2021.12.096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Photoelectrocatalysis is considered a green, environmentally friendly, sustainable technology for NH3 synthesis. However, the low efficiency of ammonia synthesis is currently the primary problem in photoelectrochemical nitrogen reduction reactions (PEC NRR). Herein, a nanocomposite BQD/MS developed through the in-situ growth of Bi2S3 quantum dots (BQD) on MoS2 (MS) nanoflowers was demonstrated as an efficient PEC NRR catalyst. Experimental results showed that the strong interaction between BQD and MS modulated the interfacial charge distribution and increased the electron density on the MS side. Meanwhile, the excellent structure of BQD/MS promoted the effective migration of photogenerated electrons from excited BQD to the MS surface. The electron-rich MS reaction interface was conducive to cleaving the stable NN bond and improving the N2 reduction performance. As a result, the prepared BQD/15MS photocathode obtained an excellent Faradaic efficiency of 33.2% and an NH3 yield of 18.5 μg h-1 mg-1, which was about three times that of bare MS.
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