Integrating Co(OH)2 nanosheet arrays on graphene for efficient noble-metal-free EY-sensitized photocatalytic H2 evolution

Molten salt synthesis of 1T/2H mixed phase MoS2 for boosting photocatalytic H2 evolution via Schottky junction under EY-sensitized system

Clean H2 fuel obtained from the photocatalytic water splitting to hydrogen reaction could efficiently alleviate current energy crisis and the concomitant environmental pollution problems. Therefore, it is desirable to search for a highly efficient photocatalytic system to decrease the energy barrier of water splitting reaction. Herein, the 1T/2H mixed phase MoS2 sample with Schottky junction between contact interfaces is developed through molten salt synthesis for photocatalytic hydrogen production under a dye-sensitized system (Eosin Y-TEOA-MoS2) driven by the visible light. In mixed phase MoS2 sample, the photogenerated electrons of 2H-phase MoS2 migrated to the 1T-phase MoS2 are difficult to jump back because of the existence of Schottky barrier, which greatly suppresses the quenching of EY and therefore results in an enhanced hydrogen evolution performance. Therefore, the optimized MoS2 sample (MoS2-350) has an initial hydrogen evolution rate of 213 μmol h-1 and corresponding apparent quantum yield of 36.1 % at 420 nm, far higher than those of pure Eosin Y. It is strongly confirmed by the steady-state/time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) spectra and transient photocurrent response experiments. With the assistance of Density functional theory (DFT) calculation, the function of Schottky junction in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction is well explained. In addition, a new and universal method (SVM curve) of judging oxidation or reduction quenching for photosensitizers is proposed.

Carbon Dioxide Pressure and Catalyst Quantity Dependencies in Artificial Photosynthesis of Hydrocarbon Chains on Nanostructured Co/CoO Surfaces

In this study, we investigated the influence of pressure and the quantity of Co/CoO catalyst on an artificial photosynthesis process that converts CO2 and H2O into hydrocarbons (CnH2n+2, where n ≤ 18). The adsorption of CO2 and H2O on Co/CoO surfaces proved to be pivotal in this photo-catalytic reaction. Photoexcited carbon dioxide and water molecules ((CO2)* and (H2O)*) generated by illuminating the catalyst surface led to the formation of alkene hydrocarbon molecules with carbon numbers following an approximate Poisson distribution. The optimal pressure was found to be 0.40 MPa. Pressure less than 0.40 MPa resulted in low CO2 adsorption, impeding excitation for photosynthesis. At greater pressure, oil/wax accumulation on Co/CoO surfaces hindered CO2 adsorption, limiting further photosynthesis reactions. The average number of carbon atoms in the hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon yield were correlated. The amount of Co/CoO was also found to affect the hydrocarbon yield. Our study contributes to the understanding of Co/CoO-catalyzed photosynthesis and suggests that an open-flow system could potentially enhance the productivity of long-chain hydrocarbons.

Recent Advances of CeO2-Based Composite Materials for Photocatalytic Applications

Photocatalysis has the advantages of practical, sustainable and environmental protection, so it plays a significant role in energy transformation and environmental utilization. CeO2 has attracted widespread attention for its unique 4 f electrons, rich defect structures, high oxygen storage capacity and great chemical stability. In this paper, we review the structure of CeO2 and the common methods for the preparation of CeO2-based composites in the first part. In particular, we highlight the co-precipitation method, template method, and sol-gel method methods. Then, in the second part, we introduce the application of CeO2-based composites in photocatalysis, including photocatalytic CO2 reduction, hydrogen production, degradation, selective organic reaction, and photocatalytic nitrogen fixation. In addition, we discuss several modification techniques to improve the photocatalytic performance of CeO2-based composites, such as elemental doping, defect engineering, constructing heterojunction and morphology regulation. Finally, the challenges faced by CeO2-based composites are analyzed and their development prospects are prospected. This review provides a systematic summary of the recent advance of CeO2-based composites in the field of photocatalysis, which can provide useful references for the rational design of efficient CeO2-based composite photocatalysts for sustainable development.

Rational Photodeposition of Cobalt Phosphate on Flower-like ZnIn2S4 for Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

The high electrons and holes recombination rate of ZnIn2S4 significantly limits its photocatalytic performance. Herein, a simple in situ photodeposition strategy is adopted to introduce the cocatalyst cobalt phosphate (Co-Pi) on ZnIn2S4, aiming at facilitating the separation of electron-hole by promoting the transfer of photogenerated holes of ZnIn2S4. The study reveals that the composite catalyst has superior photocatalytic performance than blank ZnIn2S4. In particular, ZnIn2S4 loaded with 5% Co-Pi (ZnIn2S4/5%Co-Pi) has the best photocatalytic activity, and the H2 production rate reaches 3593 μmol·g-1·h-1, approximately double that of ZnIn2S4 alone. Subsequent characterization data demonstrate that the introduction of the cocatalyst Co-Pi facilitates the transfer of ZnIn2S4 holes, thus improving the efficiency of photogenerated carrier separation. This investigation focuses on the rational utilization of high-content and rich cocatalysts on earth to design low-cost and efficient composite catalysts to achieve sustainable photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

Photocatalytic Conversion of Diluted CO2 into Tunable Syngas via Modulating Transition Metal Hydroxides

The conversion of diluted CO2 into tunable syngas via photocatalysis is critical for implementing CO2 reduction practically, although the efficiency remains low. Herein, we report the use of graphene-modified transition metal hydroxides, namely, NiXCo1-X-GR, for the conversion of diluted CO2 into syngas with adjustable CO/H2 ratios, utilizing Ru dyes as photosensitizers. The Ni(OH)2-GR cocatalyst can generate 12526 μmol g-1 h-1 of CO and 844 μmol g-1 h-1 of H2, while the Co(OH)2-GR sample presents a generation rate of 2953 μmol g-1 h-1 for CO and 10027 μmol g-1 h-1 for H2. Notably, by simply altering the addition amounts of nickel and cobalt in the transition metal composite, the CO/H2 ratios in syngas can be easily regulated from 18:1 to 1:4. Experimental characterization of composites and DFT calculations suggest that the differing adsorption affinities of CO2 and H2O over Ni(OH)2-GR and Co(OH)2-GR play a significant role in determining the selectivity of CO and H2 products, ultimately affecting the CO/H2 ratios in syngas. Overall, these findings demonstrate the potential of graphene-modified transition metal hydroxides as efficient photocatalysts for CO2 reduction and syngas production.