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Lee M, Kim T, Jang W, Lee S, So JP, Jang G, Choi S, Kim S, Bae J, Kim T, Park HG, Moon J, Soon A, Shim W. Nontypical Wulff-Shape Silicon Nanosheets with High Catalytic Activity. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:22620-22632. [PMID: 37799086 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c07768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Nanostructured silicon with an equilibrium shape has exhibited hydrogen evolution reaction activity mainly owing to its high surface area, which is distinct from that of bulk silicon. Such a Wulff shape of silicon favors low-surface-energy planes, resulting in silicon being an anisotropic and predictably faceted solid in which certain planes are favored, but this limits further improvement of the catalytic activity. Here, we introduce nanoporous silicon nanosheets that possess high-surface-energy crystal planes, leading to an unconventional Wulff shape that bolsters the catalytic activity. The high-index plane, uncommonly seen in the Wulff shape of bulk Si, has a band structure optimally aligned with the redox potential necessary for hydrogen generation, resulting in an apparent quantum yield (AQY) of 12.1% at a 400 nm wavelength. The enhanced light absorption in nanoporous silicon nanosheets also contributes to the high photocatalytic activity. Collectively, the strategy of making crystals with nontypical Wulff shapes can provide a route toward various classes of photocatalysts for hydrogen production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minwoo Lee
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-749, Republic of Korea
- Center for Multi-Dimensional Materials, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Taehoon Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-749, Republic of Korea
- Center for Multi-Dimensional Materials, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Woosun Jang
- Integrated Science and Engineering Division, Underwood International College, Yonsei University, Incheon 21983, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangseob Lee
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-749, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Pil So
- Department of Physics, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, and Institute of Applied Physics, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyumin Jang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-749, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangjin Choi
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-749, Republic of Korea
- Center for Multi-Dimensional Materials, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungsoon Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-749, Republic of Korea
- Center for Multi-Dimensional Materials, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihong Bae
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-749, Republic of Korea
- Center for Multi-Dimensional Materials, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Taeyoung Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-749, Republic of Korea
- Center for Multi-Dimensional Materials, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Hong-Gyu Park
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, and Institute of Applied Physics, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jooho Moon
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-749, Republic of Korea
| | - Aloysius Soon
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-749, Republic of Korea
| | - Wooyoung Shim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-749, Republic of Korea
- Center for Multi-Dimensional Materials, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanomedicine, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- Yonsei IBS Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
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Putwa S, Curtis IS, Dasog M. Nanostructured silicon photocatalysts for solar-driven fuel production. iScience 2023; 26:106317. [PMID: 36950113 PMCID: PMC10025979 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Solar-driven production of fuels such as hydrogen, hydrocarbons, and ammonia using semiconducting photocatalysts has the potential to be a sustainable alternative to current chemical processes. In recent years, silicon (Si) nanostructures have been recognized as a promising photocatalyst for hydrogen generation and organic oxidation reactions owing to its abundance, biocompatibility, and cost. While bulk Si has been studied extensively, on the nanoscale, plenty of opportunities exist to understand and engineer optimally performing Si photocatalysts. This perspective will highlight key results on the use of Si nanostructures for photocatalytic H2 production, CO2 reduction via light and heat-driven chemical looping, and current challenges in utilizing it for fuel-forming reactions. A brief guide on how these challenges can be addressed in the future and other unexplored questions that remain in the field are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarrah Putwa
- Department of Chemistry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Isabel S. Curtis
- Department of Chemistry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Mita Dasog
- Department of Chemistry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Corresponding author
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Curtis IS, Wills RJ, Dasog M. Photocatalytic hydrogen generation using mesoporous silicon nanoparticles: influence of magnesiothermic reduction conditions and nanoparticle aging on the catalytic activity. NANOSCALE 2021; 13:2685-2692. [PMID: 33496714 DOI: 10.1039/d0nr07463b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, mesoporous silicon (mp-Si) nanoparticles (NPs) have been recognized as promising materials for sustainable photocatalytic hydrogen (H2) generation, which is both an important chemical feedstock and potential clean energy vector. These materials are commonly prepared via magnesiothermic reduction of silica precursors due to the ease, scalability, and tunability of this reaction. In this work, we investigate how the conditions of magnesiothermic reduction (i.e. reaction temperature and time) influence the performance of mp-Si for photocatalytic H2 generation. The mp-Si NPs were prepared using either the conventional single temperature heating method (650 °C for 3 or 6 h) or a two-temperature method in which the reaction is initially heated to 650 °C for 0.5 h, followed by a second step heating at 100 (mp-Si100), 200 (mp-Si200), or 300 °C (mp-Si300) for 6 h. Of these, mp-Si300 was the best performing photocatalyst and showed the highest H2 evolution rate (4437 μmol h-1 g-1 Si). Our results suggest that crystallinity has a profound effect on the performance of mp-Si photocatalysts. Additionally, high amounts of oxygen and particle sintering lower H2 evolution rates by introducing defect states or grain boundaries. It was also discovered that aging mp-Si NPs under ambient conditions result in continued surface oxidation which deleteriously affects its photocatalytic performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel S Curtis
- Department of Chemistry, Dalhousie University, 6274 Coburg Road, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada.
| | - Ryan J Wills
- Department of Chemistry, Dalhousie University, 6274 Coburg Road, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada.
| | - Mita Dasog
- Department of Chemistry, Dalhousie University, 6274 Coburg Road, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada.
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