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An Insight into Carbon Nanomaterial-Based Photocatalytic Water Splitting for Green Hydrogen Production. Catalysts 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/catal13010066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
At present, the energy shortage and environmental pollution are the burning global issues. For centuries, fossil fuels have been used to meet worldwide energy demand. However, thousands of tons of greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere when fossil fuels are burned, contributing to global warming. Therefore, green energy must replace fossil fuels, and hydrogen is a prime choice. Photocatalytic water splitting (PWS) under solar irradiation could address energy and environmental problems. In the past decade, solar photocatalysts have been used to manufacture sustainable fuels. Scientists are working to synthesize a reliable, affordable, and light-efficient photocatalyst. Developing efficient photocatalysts for water redox reactions in suspension is a key to solar energy conversion. Semiconductor nanoparticles can be used as photocatalysts to accelerate redox reactions to generate chemical fuel or electricity. Carbon materials are substantial photocatalysts for total WS under solar irradiation due to their high activity, high stability, low cost, easy production, and structural diversity. Carbon-based materials such as graphene, graphene oxide, graphitic carbon nitride, fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, and carbon quantum dots can be used as semiconductors, photosensitizers, cocatalysts, and support materials. This review comprehensively explains how carbon-based composite materials function as photocatalytic semiconductors for hydrogen production, the water-splitting mechanism, and the chemistry of redox reactions. Also, how heteroatom doping, defects and surface functionalities, etc., can influence the efficiency of carbon photocatalysts in H2 production. The challenges faced in the PWS process and future prospects are briefly discussed.
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Recent Developments in the Use of Heterogeneous Semiconductor Photocatalyst Based Materials for a Visible-Light-Induced Water-Splitting System—A Brief Review. Catalysts 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/catal11020160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Visible-light-driven photoelectrochemical (PEC) and photocatalytic water splitting systems featuring heterogeneous semiconductor photocatalysts (oxynitrides, oxysulfides, organophotocatalysts) signify an environmentally friendly and promising approach for the manufacturing of renewable hydrogen fuel. Semiconducting electrode materials as the main constituents in the PEC water splitting system have substantial effects on the device’s solar-to-hydrogen (STH) conversion efficiency. Given the complication of the photocatalysis and photoelectrolysis methods, it is indispensable to include the different electrocatalytic materials for advancing visible-light-driven water splitting, considered a difficult challenge. Heterogeneous semiconductor-based materials with narrower bandgaps (2.5 to 1.9 eV), equivalent to the theoretical STH efficiencies ranging from 9.3% to 20.9%, are recognized as new types of photoabsorbents to engage as photoelectrodes for PEC water oxidation and have fascinated much consideration. Herein, we spotlight mainly on heterogenous semiconductor-based photoanode materials for PEC water splitting. Different heterogeneous photocatalysts based materials are emphasized in different groups, such as oxynitrides, oxysulfides, and organic solids. Lastly, the design approach and future developments regarding heterogeneous photocatalysts oxide electrodes for PEC applications and photocatalytic applications are also discussed.
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Bellani S, Antognazza MR, Bonaccorso F. Carbon-Based Photocathode Materials for Solar Hydrogen Production. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2019; 31:e1801446. [PMID: 30221413 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201801446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2018] [Revised: 06/15/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Hydrogen is considered a promising environmentally friendly energy carrier for replacing traditional fossil fuels. In this context, photoelectrochemical cells effectively convert solar energy directly to H2 fuel by water photoelectrolysis, thereby monolitically combining the functions of both light harvesting and electrolysis. In such devices, photocathodes and photoanodes carry out the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), respectively. Here, the focus is on photocathodes for HER, traditionally based on metal oxides, III-V group and II-VI group semiconductors, silicon, and copper-based chalcogenides as photoactive material. Recently, carbon-based materials have emerged as reliable alternatives to the aforementioned materials. A perspective on carbon-based photocathodes is provided here, critically analyzing recent research progress and outlining the major guidelines for the development of efficient and stable photocathode architectures. In particular, the functional role of charge-selective and protective layers, which enhance both the efficiency and the durability of the photocathodes, is discussed. An in-depth evaluation of the state-of-the-art fabrication of photocathodes through scalable, high-troughput, cost-effective methods is presented. The major aspects on the development of light-trapping nanostructured architectures are also addressed. Finally, the key challenges on future research directions in terms of potential performance and manufacturability of photocathodes are analyzed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastiano Bellani
- Graphene Labs, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163, Genova, Italy
| | - Maria Rosa Antognazza
- Center for Nano Science and Technology @Polimi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Pascoli 70/3, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Bonaccorso
- Graphene Labs, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163, Genova, Italy
- BeDimensional Srl, via Albisola 121, 16163, Genova, Italy
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Fujine K, Sato Y, Nagai K, Abe T. Photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic investigation of the oxidative formation of H2 from a borane-ammonia complex using an organic p-n bilayer comprising a p-type cobalt phthalocyanine and an n-type perylene derivative. J Electroanal Chem (Lausanne) 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jelechem.2018.06.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Morozan A, Bourgeteau T, Tondelier D, Geffroy B, Jousselme B, Artero V. Noble metal-free hydrogen-evolving photocathodes based on small molecule organic semiconductors. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2016; 27:355401. [PMID: 27455142 PMCID: PMC5490788 DOI: 10.1088/0957-4484/27/35/355401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Organic semiconductors have great potential for producing hydrogen in a sustainable and economically-viable manner because they rely on readily available materials with highly tunable properties. We demonstrate here the relevance of heterojunctions to the construction of H2-evolving photocathodes, exclusively based on earth-abundant elements. Boron subnaphthalocyanine chloride proved a very promising acceptor in that perspective. It absorbs a part of the solar spectrum complementary to α-sexithiophene as a donor, thus generating large photocurrents and providing a record onset potential for light-driven H2 evolution under acidic aqueous conditions using a nanoparticulate amorphous molybdenum sulfide catalyst.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Morozan
- Laboratoire de Chimie et Biologie de Métaux, Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS UMR 5249, Direction de la Recherche Fondamentale du CEA, 38054 Grenoble Cedex 09, France
| | - T. Bourgeteau
- Laboratoire d’Innovation en Chimie des Surfaces et Nanosciences (LICSEN), NIMBE, CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, CEA Saclay 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
| | - D. Tondelier
- Laboratoire de Physique des Interfaces et Couche Minces, CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, Université Paris-Saclay, 91128 Palaiseau, France
| | - B. Geffroy
- Laboratoire d’Innovation en Chimie des Surfaces et Nanosciences (LICSEN), NIMBE, CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, CEA Saclay 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
- Laboratoire de Physique des Interfaces et Couche Minces, CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, Université Paris-Saclay, 91128 Palaiseau, France
| | - B. Jousselme
- Laboratoire d’Innovation en Chimie des Surfaces et Nanosciences (LICSEN), NIMBE, CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, CEA Saclay 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
| | - V. Artero
- Laboratoire de Chimie et Biologie de Métaux, Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS UMR 5249, Direction de la Recherche Fondamentale du CEA, 38054 Grenoble Cedex 09, France
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Chen Y, Li A, Yue X, Wang LN, Huang ZH, Kang F, Volinsky AA. Facile fabrication of organic/inorganic nanotube heterojunction arrays for enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting. NANOSCALE 2016; 8:13228-13235. [PMID: 26926569 DOI: 10.1039/c5nr07893h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Organic/inorganic heterojunction photoanodes are appealing for making concurrent use of the highly photoactive organic semiconductors, and the efficient dielectric screening provided by their inorganic counterparts. In the present work, organic/inorganic nanotube heterojunction arrays composed of TiO2 nanotube arrays and a semiconducting N,N-(dicyclohexyl) perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic diimide (PDi) layer were fabricated for photoelectrochemical water splitting. In this arrayed architecture, a PDi layer with a tunable thickness was coated on anodic TiO2 nanotube arrays by physical vapor deposition, which is advantageous for the formation of a uniform layer and an adequate interface contact between PDi and TiO2. The obtained PDi/TiO2 junction exhibited broadened visible light absorption, and an effective interface for enhanced photogenerated electron-hole separation, which is supported by the reduced charge transfer resistance and prolonged excitation lifetime via impedance spectroscopy analysis and fluorescence emission decay investigations. Consequently, such a heterojunction photoanode was photoresponsive to a wide visible light region of 400-600 nm, and thus demonstrated a highly enhanced photocurrent density at 1.23 V vs. a reversible hydrogen electrode. Additionally, the durability of such a photoanode can be guaranteed after long-time illumination because of the geometrical restraint imposed by the PDi aggregates. These results pave the way to discover new organic/inorganic assemblies for high-performance photoelectric applications and device integration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingzhi Chen
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, PR China.
| | - Aoxiang Li
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, PR China.
| | - Xiaoqi Yue
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, PR China.
| | - Lu-Ning Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, PR China.
| | - Zheng-Hong Huang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials (MOE), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Feiyu Kang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials (MOE), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Alex A Volinsky
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
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Carbon-based H2-production photocatalytic materials. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY C-PHOTOCHEMISTRY REVIEWS 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotochemrev.2016.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 209] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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Rudolf M, Kirner SV, Guldi DM. A multicomponent molecular approach to artificial photosynthesis – the role of fullerenes and endohedral metallofullerenes. Chem Soc Rev 2016; 45:612-30. [DOI: 10.1039/c5cs00774g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
In this review article, we highlight recent advances in the field of solar energy conversion at a molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Rudolf
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy & Interdisciplinary Center for Molecular Materials (ICMM)
- Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg
- 91058 Erlangen
- Germany
| | - S. V. Kirner
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy & Interdisciplinary Center for Molecular Materials (ICMM)
- Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg
- 91058 Erlangen
- Germany
| | - D. M. Guldi
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy & Interdisciplinary Center for Molecular Materials (ICMM)
- Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg
- 91058 Erlangen
- Germany
- Physical Biosciences Division
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Abe T, Tanno Y, Taira N, Nagai K. Efficient organo-photocatalysis system of an n-type perylene derivative/p-type cobalt phthalocyanine bilayer for the production of molecular hydrogen from hydrazine. RSC Adv 2015. [DOI: 10.1039/c5ra03842a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The stoichiometric decomposition of hydrazine (N2H4) into N2 and H2 was observed to occur efficiently in a photocatalysis system of an organic p–n bilayer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshiyuki Abe
- Department of Frontier Materials Chemistry
- Graduate School of Science and Technology
- Hirosaki University
- Hirosaki 036-8561
- Japan
| | - Yoshinori Tanno
- Department of Frontier Materials Chemistry
- Graduate School of Science and Technology
- Hirosaki University
- Hirosaki 036-8561
- Japan
| | - Naohiro Taira
- Department of Frontier Materials Chemistry
- Graduate School of Science and Technology
- Hirosaki University
- Hirosaki 036-8561
- Japan
| | - Keiji Nagai
- Chemical Resources Laboratory
- Tokyo Institute of Technology
- Yokohama 226-8503
- Japan
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Abe T, Taira N, Tanno Y, Kikuchi Y, Nagai K. Decomposition of hydrazine by an organic fullerene–phthalocyanine p–n bilayer photocatalysis system over the entire visible-light region. Chem Commun (Camb) 2014; 50:1950-2. [DOI: 10.1039/c3cc46701e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Abe T, Tanno Y, Ebina T, Miyakushi S, Nagai K. Enhanced photoanodic output at an organic p/n bilayer in the water phase by means of the formation of whiskered phthalocyanine. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2013; 5:1248-1253. [PMID: 23363482 DOI: 10.1021/am302209b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The photoelectrode characteristics of an organic p/n bilayer in the water phase were studied with respect to film; 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic-bisbenzimidazole (PTCBI, an n-type semiconductor) was used in combination with 29H,31H-phthalocyanine (H₂Pc, a p-type semiconductor). When H₂Pc was vapor-deposited on top of the PTCBI layer on a heated substrate (cf. degree of pressure, ca. 5.0 × 10⁻⁴ Pa; temperature at the substrate, 120°C), a transmission electron microscopic image showed an enhanced contact area of the p/n interface in comparison with that prepared at r.t., due to the formation of a whisker H₂Pc. The PTCBI/H₂Pc bilayer can work as a photoanode along with photophysical events in its interior. The rate-limiting charge transfer at the H₂Pc/water interface was kinetically analyzed assuming the Langmuir adsorption equilibrium at that interface. Kinetic analysis demonstrated that the increased contact area can successfully lead to efficient photoinduced carrier generation; particularly, when a thick whisker of H₂Pc was formed, the magnitude of the oxidation kinetics at the H₂Pc/water interface was approximately 2.5 times higher than that without thermal treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshiyuki Abe
- Department of Frontier Materials Chemistry, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Hirosaki University, 3 Bunkyo-cho, Hirosaki 036-8561, Japan.
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NAGAI K, ABE T. Full-Spectrum-Visible-Light Photocatalyst Based on the Active Layer of Organic Solar Cell^|^mdash;Towards Water Splitting and Volatile Molecule Degradation^|^mdash;. KOBUNSHI RONBUNSHU 2013. [DOI: 10.1295/koron.70.459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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