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Schlenkrich J, Lübkemann-Warwas F, Graf RT, Wesemann C, Schoske L, Rosebrock M, Hindricks KDJ, Behrens P, Bahnemann DW, Dorfs D, Bigall NC. Investigation of the Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production of Semiconductor Nanocrystal-Based Hydrogels. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2208108. [PMID: 36828791 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202208108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Destabilization of a ligand-stabilized semiconductor nanocrystal solution with an oxidizing agent can lead to a macroscopic highly porous self-supporting nanocrystal network entitled hydrogel, with good accessibility to the surface. The previously reported charge carrier delocalization beyond a single nanocrystal building block in such gels can extend the charge carrier mobility and make a photocatalytic reaction more probable. The synthesis of ligand-stabilized nanocrystals with specific physicochemical properties is possible, thanks to the advances in colloid chemistry made in the last decades. Combining the properties of these nanocrystals with the advantages of nanocrystal-based hydrogels will lead to novel materials with optimized photocatalytic properties. This work demonstrates that CdSe quantum dots, CdS nanorods, and CdSe/CdS dot-in-rod-shaped nanorods as nanocrystal-based hydrogels can exhibit a much higher hydrogen production rate compared to their ligand-stabilized nanocrystal solutions. The gel synthesis through controlled destabilization by ligand oxidation preserves the high surface-to-volume ratio, ensures the accessible surface area even in hole-trapping solutions and facilitates photocatalytic hydrogen production without a co-catalyst. Especially with such self-supporting networks of nanocrystals, the problem of colloidal (in)stability in photocatalysis is circumvented. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and photoelectrochemical measurements reveal the advantageous properties of the 3D networks for application in photocatalytic hydrogen production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Schlenkrich
- Leibniz University Hannover, Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Callinstraße 3A, 30167, Hannover, Germany
| | - Franziska Lübkemann-Warwas
- Leibniz University Hannover, Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Callinstraße 3A, 30167, Hannover, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence PhoenixD (Photonics, Optics and Engineering -Innovation Across Disciplines), Leibniz University Hannover, 30167, Hannover, Germany
| | - Rebecca T Graf
- Leibniz University Hannover, Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Callinstraße 3A, 30167, Hannover, Germany
- Laboratory of Nano- and Quantum Engineering, Leibniz University Hannover, 30167, Hannover, Germany
| | - Christoph Wesemann
- Leibniz University Hannover, Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Callinstraße 3A, 30167, Hannover, Germany
| | - Larissa Schoske
- Leibniz University Hannover, Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Callinstraße 3A, 30167, Hannover, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence PhoenixD (Photonics, Optics and Engineering -Innovation Across Disciplines), Leibniz University Hannover, 30167, Hannover, Germany
| | - Marina Rosebrock
- Leibniz University Hannover, Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Callinstraße 3A, 30167, Hannover, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence PhoenixD (Photonics, Optics and Engineering -Innovation Across Disciplines), Leibniz University Hannover, 30167, Hannover, Germany
| | - Karen D J Hindricks
- Cluster of Excellence PhoenixD (Photonics, Optics and Engineering -Innovation Across Disciplines), Leibniz University Hannover, 30167, Hannover, Germany
- Leibniz University Hannover, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Callinstraße 9, 30167, Hannover, Germany
| | - Peter Behrens
- Cluster of Excellence PhoenixD (Photonics, Optics and Engineering -Innovation Across Disciplines), Leibniz University Hannover, 30167, Hannover, Germany
- Laboratory of Nano- and Quantum Engineering, Leibniz University Hannover, 30167, Hannover, Germany
- Leibniz University Hannover, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Callinstraße 9, 30167, Hannover, Germany
| | - Detlef W Bahnemann
- Leibniz University Hannover, Institute of Technical Chemistry, Callinstraße 5, 30167, Hannover, Germany
- Laboratory "Photoactive Nanocomposite Materials", Saint-Petersburg State University, Ulyanovskaya str. 1, Saint-Petersburg, 198504, Peterhof, Russia
| | - Dirk Dorfs
- Cluster of Excellence PhoenixD (Photonics, Optics and Engineering -Innovation Across Disciplines), Leibniz University Hannover, 30167, Hannover, Germany
- Laboratory of Nano- and Quantum Engineering, Leibniz University Hannover, 30167, Hannover, Germany
| | - Nadja C Bigall
- Cluster of Excellence PhoenixD (Photonics, Optics and Engineering -Innovation Across Disciplines), Leibniz University Hannover, 30167, Hannover, Germany
- Laboratory of Nano- and Quantum Engineering, Leibniz University Hannover, 30167, Hannover, Germany
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Rusch P, Zámbó D, Bigall NC. Control over Structure and Properties in Nanocrystal Aerogels at the Nano-, Micro-, and Macroscale. Acc Chem Res 2020; 53:2414-2424. [PMID: 33030336 PMCID: PMC7581295 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.0c00463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
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The assembly
of individual colloidal nanocrystals into macroscopic
solvogels and aerogels introduced a new exciting type of material
into the class of porous architectures. In these so-called nanocrystal
gels, the structure and properties can be controlled and fine-tuned
to the smallest details. Recently it was shown that by employing nanocrystal
building blocks for such gel materials, the interesting nanoscopic
properties can be conserved or even expanded to properties that are
available neither in the nanocrystals nor in their respective bulk
materials. In general, the production of these materials features
the wet-chemical synthesis of stable nanocrystal colloids followed
by their carefully controlled destabilization to facilitate arrangement
of the nanocrystals into highly porous, interconnected networks. By
isolation of the synthesis of the discrete building blocks from the
assembly process, the electronic structure, optical properties, and
structural morphology can be tailored by the myriad of procedures
developed in colloidal nanocrystal chemistry. Furthermore, knowledge
and control over the structure–property correlation in the
resulting gel structures opens up numerous new ways for extended and
advanced applications. Consequently, the amount of different materials
converted to nanocrystal-based gel structures is rising steadily.
Meanwhile the number of methods for assembly initiation is likewise
increasing, offering control over the overall network structure and
porosity as well as the individual nanocrystal building block connection.
The resulting networks can be dried by different methods to obtain
highly porous air-filled networks (aerogels) or applied in their wet
form (solvogels). By now a number of different applications profiting
from the unique advantages of nanocrystal-based gel materials have
been realized and exploited in the areas of photocatalysis, electrocatalysis,
and sensing. In this Account, we aim to summarize the efforts
undertaken in
the structuring of nanocrystal-based network materials on different
scales, fine-tuning of the individual building blocks on the nanoscale,
the network connections on the microscale, and the macroscale structure
and shape of the final construct. It is exemplarily demonstrated how
cation exchange reactions (at the nanoscale), postgelation modifications
on the nanocrystal networks (microscale), and the structuring of the
gels via printing techniques (macroscale) endow the resulting nanocrystal
gel networks with novel physicochemical, mechanical, and electrocatalytic
properties. The methods applied in the more traditional sol–gel
chemistry targeting micro- and macroscale structuring are also reviewed,
showing their future potential promoting the field of nanocrystal-based
aerogels and their applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Rusch
- Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Callinstraße 3A, 30167 Hannover, Germany
| | - Dániel Zámbó
- Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Callinstraße 3A, 30167 Hannover, Germany
| | - Nadja C. Bigall
- Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Callinstraße 3A, 30167 Hannover, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence PhoenixD (Photonics, Optics, and Engineering − Innovation Across Disciplines), 30167 Hannover, Germany
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