Comparing the net-energy balance of standalone photovoltaic-coupled electrolysis and photoelectrochemical hydrogen production

Photovoltaic-coupled electrolysis (PV-E) and photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting are two options for storing solar energy as hydrogen. Understanding the requirements for achieving a positive energy balance over the lifetime of facilities using these technologies is important for ensuring sustainability. While neither technology has yet reached full commercialisation, they are also at very different technology readiness levels and scales of development. Here, we model the energy balance of standalone large-scale facilities to evaluate their energy return on energy invested (ERoEI) over time and energy payback time (EPBT). We find that for average input parameters based on present commercialised modules, a PV-E facility shows an EPBT of 6.2 years and ERoEI after 20 years of 2.1, which rises to approximately 3.7 with an EPBT of 2.7 years for favourable parameters using the best metrics amongst large-scale modules. The energy balance of PV-E facilities is influenced most strongly by the upfront embodied energy costs of the photovoltaic component. In contrast, the simulated ERoEI for a PEC facility made with earth abundant materials only peaks at 0.42 after 11 years and about 0.71 after 20 years for facilities with higher-performance active materials. Doubling the conversion efficiency to 10% and halving the degradation rate to 2% for a 10-year device lifetime can allow PEC facilities to achieve an ERoEI after 20 years of 2.1 for optimistic future parameters. We also estimate that recycling the materials used in hydrogen production technologies improves the energy balance by 28% and 14% for favourable-case PV-E and PEC water splitting facilities, respectively.

Operando IR Optical Control of Localized Charge Carriers in BiVO4 Photoanodes

In photoelectrochemical cells (PECs) the photon-to-current conversion efficiency is often governed by carrier transport. Most metal oxides used in PECs exhibit thermally activated transport due to charge localization via the formation of polarons or the interaction with defects. This impacts catalysis by restricting the charge accumulation and extraction. To overcome this transport bottleneck nanostructuring, selective doping and photothermal treatments have been employed. Here we demonstrate an alternative approach capable of directly activating localized carriers in bismuth vanadate (BiVO4). We show that IR photons can optically excite localized charges, modulate their kinetics, and enhance the PEC current. Moreover, we track carriers bound to oxygen vacancies and expose their ∼10 ns charge localization, followed by ∼60 μs transport-assisted trapping. Critically, we demonstrate that localization is strongly dependent on the electric field within the device. While optical modulation has still a limited impact on overall PEC performance, we argue it offers a path to control devices on demand and uncover defect-related photophysics.

Elevated free interleukin-18 associated with severity and mortality in prospective cohort study of 206 hospitalised COVID-19 patients

BACKGROUND

Divergence between deterioration to life-threatening COVID-19 or clinical improvement occurs for most within the first 14 days of symptoms. Life-threatening COVID-19 shares clinical similarities with Macrophage Activation Syndrome, which can be driven by elevated Free Interleukin-18 (IL-18) due to failure of negative-feedback release of IL-18 binding protein (IL-18bp). We, therefore, designed a prospective, longitudinal cohort study to examine IL-18 negative-feedback control in relation to COVID-19 severity and mortality from symptom day 15 onwards.

METHODS

662 blood samples, matched to time from symptom onset, from 206 COVID-19 patients were analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for IL-18 and IL-18bp, enabling calculation of free IL-18 (fIL-18) using the updated dissociation constant (K_d) of 0.05 nmol. Adjusted multivariate regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between highest fIL-18 and outcome measures of COVID-19 severity and mortality. Re-calculated fIL-18 values from a previously studied healthy cohort are also presented.

RESULTS

Range of fIL-18 in COVID-19 cohort was 10.05-1157.7 pg/ml. Up to symptom day 14, mean fIL-18 levels increased in all patients. Levels in survivors declined thereafter, but remained elevated in non-survivors. Adjusted regression analysis from symptom day 15 onwards showed a 100 mmHg decrease in PaO₂/FiO₂ (primary outcome) for each 37.7 pg/ml increase in highest fIL-18 (p < 0.03). Per 50 pg/ml increase in highest fIL-18, adjusted logistic regression gave an odds-ratio (OR) for crude 60-day mortality of 1.41 (1.1-2.0) (p < 0.03), and an OR for death with hypoxaemic respiratory failure of 1.90 [1.3-3.1] (p < 0.01). Highest fIL-18 was associated also with organ failure in patients with hypoxaemic respiratory failure, with an increase of 63.67 pg/ml for every additional organ supported (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated free IL-18 levels from symptom day 15 onwards are associated with COVID-19 severity and mortality. ISRCTN: #13450549; registration date: 30/12/2020.

MOF-Derived Defective Co3O4 Nanosheets in Carbon Nitride Nanocomposites for CO2 Photoreduction and H2 Production

In photocatalysis, especially in CO₂ reduction and H₂ production, the development of multicomponent nanomaterials provides great opportunities to tune many critical parameters toward increased activity. This work reports the development of tunable organic/inorganic heterojunctions comprised of cobalt oxides (Co₃O₄) of varying morphology and modified carbon nitride (CN), targeting on optimizing their response under UV-visible irradiation. MOF structures were used as precursors for the synthesis of Co₃O₄. A facile solvothermal approach allowed the development of ultrathin two-dimensional (2D) Co₃O₄ nanosheets (Co₃O₄-NS). The optimized CN and Co₃O₄ structures were coupled forming heterojunctions, and the content of each part was optimized. Activity was significantly improved in the nanocomposites bearing Co₃O₄-NS compared with the corresponding bulk Co₃O₄/CN composites. Transient absorption spectroscopy revealed a 100-fold increase in charge carrier lifetime on Co₃O₄-NS sites in the composite compared with the bare Co₃O₄-NS. The improved photocatalytic activity in H₂ production and CO₂ reduction is linked with (a) the larger interface imposed from the matching 2D structure of Co₃O₄-NS and the planar surface of CN, (b) improvements in charge carrier lifetime, and (c) the enhanced CO₂ adsorption. The study highlights the importance of MOF structures used as precursors in forming advanced materials and the stepwise functionalization of the individual parts in nanocomposites for the development of materials with superior activity.

Parasitic Light Absorption, Rate Laws and Heterojunctions in the Photocatalytic Oxidation of Arsenic(III) Using Composite TiO2 /Fe2 O3

Composite photocatalyst‐adsorbents such as TiO₂/Fe₂O₃ are promising materials for the one‐step treatment of arsenite contaminated water. However, no previous study has investigated how coupling TiO₂ with Fe₂O₃ influences the photocatalytic oxidation of arsenic(III). Herein, we develop new hybrid experiment/modelling approaches to study light absorption, charge carrier behaviour and changes in the rate law of the TiO₂/Fe₂O₃ system, using UV‐Vis spectroscopy, transient absorption spectroscopy (TAS), and kinetic analysis. Whilst coupling TiO₂ with Fe₂O₃ improves total arsenic removal by adsorption, oxidation rates significantly decrease (up to a factor of 60), primarily due to the parasitic absorption of light by Fe₂O₃ (88 % of photons at 368 nm) and secondly due to changes in the rate law from disguised zero‐order kinetics to first‐order kinetics. Charge transfer across this TiO₂‐Fe₂O₃ heterojunction is not observed. Our study demonstrates the first application of a multi‐adsorbate surface complexation model (SCM) towards describing As(III) oxidation kinetics which, unlike Langmuir‐Hinshelwood kinetics, includes the competitive adsorption of As(V). We further highlight the importance of parasitic light absorption and catalyst fouling when designing heterogeneous photocatalysts for As(III) remediation.

Linking in situ charge accumulation to electronic structure in doped SrTiO3 reveals design principles for hydrogen-evolving photocatalysts

Recently, high solar-to-hydrogen efficiencies were demonstrated using La and Rh co-doped SrTiO₃ (La,Rh:SrTiO₃) incorporated into a low-cost and scalable Z-scheme device, known as a photocatalyst sheet. However, the unique properties that enable La,Rh:SrTiO₃ to support this impressive performance are not fully understood. Combining in situ spectroelectrochemical measurements with density functional theory and photoelectron spectroscopy produces a depletion model of Rh:SrTiO₃ and La,Rh:SrTiO₃ photocatalyst sheets. This reveals remarkable properties, such as deep flatband potentials (+2 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode) and a Rh oxidation state dependent reorganization of the electronic structure, involving the loss of a vacant Rh 4d mid-gap state. This reorganization enables Rh:SrTiO₃ to be reduced by co-doping without compromising the p-type character. In situ time-resolved spectroscopies show that the electronic structure reorganization induced by Rh reduction controls the electron lifetime in photocatalyst sheets. In Rh:SrTiO₃, enhanced lifetimes can only be obtained at negative applied potentials, where the complete Z-scheme operates inefficiently. La co-doping fixes Rh in the 3+ state, which results in long-lived photogenerated electrons even at very positive potentials (+1 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode), in which both components of the complete device operate effectively. This understanding of the role of co-dopants provides a new insight into the design principles for water-splitting devices based on bandgap-engineered metal oxides.

Zn and N Codoped TiO2 Thin Films: Photocatalytic and Bactericidal Activity

We explore a series of Zn and N codoped TiO₂ thin films grown using chemical vapor deposition. Films were prepared with various concentrations of Zn (0.4-2.9 at. % Zn vs Ti), and their impact on superoxide formation, photocatalytic activity, and bactericidal properties were determined. Superoxide (O₂^•-) formation was assessed using a 2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-5-[(phenylamino)carbonyl]-2H-tetrazolium sodium salt (XTT) as an indicator, photocatalytic activity was determined from the degradation of stearic acid under UVA light, and bactericidal activity was assessed using a Gram-negative bacterium E. coli under both UVA and fluorescent light (similar to what is found in a clinical environment). The 0.4% Zn,N:TiO₂ thin film demonstrated the highest formal quantum efficiency in degrading stearic acid (3.3 × 10^-5 molecules·photon^-1), while the 1.0% Zn,N:TiO₂ film showed the highest bactericidal activity under both UVA and fluorescent light conditions (>3 log kill). The enhanced efficiency of the films was correlated with increased charge carrier lifetime, supported by transient absorption spectroscopy (TAS) measurements.

Charge Transport Phenomena in Heterojunction Photocatalysts: The WO3/TiO2 System as an Archetypical Model

Recent studies have demonstrated the high efficiency through which nanostructured core-shell WO₃/TiO₂ (WT) heterojunctions can photocatalytically degrade model organic pollutants (stearic acid, QE ≈ 18% @ λ = 365 nm), and as such, has varied potential environmental and antimicrobial applications. The key motivation herein is to connect theoretical calculations of charge transport phenomena, with experimental measures of charge carrier behavior using transient absorption spectroscopy (TAS), to develop a fundamental understanding of how such WT heterojunctions achieve high photocatalytic efficiency (in comparison to standalone WO₃ and TiO₂ photocatalysts). This work reveals an order of magnitude enhancement in electron and hole recombination lifetimes, respectively located in the TiO₂ and WO₃ sides, when an optimally designed WT heterojunction photocatalyst operates under UV excitation. This observation is further supported by our computationally captured details of conduction band and valence band processes, identified as (i) dominant electron transfer from WO₃ to TiO₂ via the diffusion of excess electrons; and (ii) dominant hole transfer from TiO₂ to WO₃ via thermionic emission over the valence band edge. Simultaneously, our combined theoretical and experimental study offers a time-resolved understanding of what occurs on the micro- to milliseconds (μs-ms) time scale in this archetypical photocatalytic heterojunction. At the microsecond time scale, a portion of the accumulated holes in WO₃ contribute to the depopulation of W⁵⁺ polaronic states, whereas the remaining accumulated holes in WO₃ are separated from adjacent electrons in TiO₂ up to 3 ms after photoexcitation. The presence of these exceptionally long-lived photogenerated carriers, dynamically separated by the WT heterojunction, is the origin of the superior photocatalytic efficiency displayed by this system (in the degradation of stearic acid). Consequently, our combined computational and experimental approach delivers a robust understanding of the direction of charge separation along with critical time-resolved insights into the evolution of charge transport phenomena in this model heterojunction photocatalyst.

The effect of nanoparticulate PdO co-catalysts on the faradaic and light conversion efficiency of WO3 photoanodes for water oxidation

WO3 photoanodes offer rare stability in acidic media, but are limited by their selectivity for oxygen evolution over parasitic side reactions, when employed in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. Herein, this is remedied via the modification of nanostructured WO3 photoanodes with surface decorated PdO as an oxygen evolution co-catalyst (OEC). The photoanodes and co-catalyst particles are grown using an up-scalable aerosol assisted chemical vapour deposition (AA-CVD) route, and their physical properties characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. Subsequent PEC and transient photocurrent (TPC) measurements showed that the use of a PdO co-catalyst dramatically increases the faradaic efficiency (FE) of water oxidation from 52% to 92%, whilst simultaneously enhancing the photocurrent generation and charge extraction rate. The Pd oxidation state was found to be critical in achieving these notable improvements to the photoanode performance, which is primarily attributed to the higher selectivity towards oxygen evolution when PdO is used as an OEC and the formation of a favourable junction between WO3 and PdO, that drives band bending and charge separation.

Towards High Performance Chemical Vapour Deposition V2O5 Cathodes for Batteries Employing Aqueous Media

The need for clean and efficient energy storage has become the center of attention due to the eminent global energy crisis and growing ecological concerns. A key component in this effort is the ultra-high performance battery, which will play a major role in the energy industry. To meet the demands in portable electronic devices, electric vehicles, and large-scale energy storage systems, it is necessary to prepare advanced batteries with high safety, fast charge ratios, and discharge capabilities at a low cost. Cathode materials play a significant role in determining the performance of batteries. Among the possible electrode materials is vanadium pentoxide, which will be discussed in this review, due to its low cost and high theoretical capacity. Additionally, aqueous electrolytes, which are environmentally safe, provide an alternative approach compared to organic media for safe, cost-effective, and scalable energy storage. In this review, we will reveal the industrial potential of competitive methods to grow cathodes with excellent stability and enhanced electrochemical performance in aqueous media and lay the foundation for the large-scale production of electrode materials.

A Hierarchical 3D TiO2 /Ni Nanostructure as an Efficient Hole-Extraction and Protection Layer for GaAs Photoanodes

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is a promising clean route to hydrogen fuel. The best-performing materials (III/V semiconductors) require surface passivation, as they are liable to corrosion, and a surface co-catalyst to facilitate water splitting. At present, optimal design combining photoelectrodes with oxygen evolution catalysts remains a significant materials challenge. Here, we demonstrate that nickel-coated amorphous three-dimensional (3D) TiO₂ core-shell nanorods on a TiO₂ thin film function as an efficient hole-extraction layer and serve as a protection layer for the GaAs photoanode. Transient-absorption spectroscopy (TAS) demonstrated the role of nickel-coated (3D) TiO₂ core-shell nanorods in prolonging photogenerated charge lifetimes in GaAs, resulting in a higher catalytic activity. This strategy may open the potential of utilizing this low-cost (3D) nanostructured catalyst for decorating narrow-band-gap semiconductor photoanodes for PEC water splitting devices.

Improved accuracy in multicomponent surface complexation models using surface-sensitive analytical techniques: Adsorption of arsenic onto a TiO2/Fe2O3 multifunctional sorbent

Novel composite materials are increasingly developed for water treatment applications with the aim of achieving multifunctional behaviour, e.g. combining adsorption with light-driven remediation. The application of surface complexation models (SCM) is important to understand how adsorption changes as a function of pH, ionic strength and the presence of competitor ions. Component additive (CA) models describe composite sorbents using a combination of single-phase reference materials. However, predictive adsorption modelling using the CA-SCM approach remains unreliable, due to challenges in the quantitative determination of surface composition. In this study, we test the hypothesis that characterisation of the outermost surface using low energy ion scattering (LEIS) improves CA-SCM accuracy. We consider the TiO₂/Fe₂O₃ photocatalyst-sorbents that are increasingly investigated for arsenic remediation. Due to an iron oxide surface coating that was not captured by bulk analysis, LEIS significantly improves the accuracy of our component additive predictions for monolayer surface processes: adsorption of arsenic(V) and surface acidity. We also demonstrate non-component additivity in multilayer arsenic(III) adsorption, due to changes in surface morphology/porosity. Our results demonstrate how surface-sensitive analytical techniques will improve adsorption models for the next generation of composite sorbents.

V2O5 as magnesium cathode material with extended cyclic stability

In this work, the electrochemical performance of aerosol-assisted chemical vapour deposited vanadium pentoxide cathodes at 600 °C, is presented. The as-grown oxides indicate specific discharge capacity of 300 mA h g-1 with capacity retention of 92 % after 10000 scans, coulombic efficiency of 100 %, noble structural stability and high reversibility. The present study shows the possibility to grow large-area magnesium cathode material with extended cycle stability via utilization of an aqueous electrolyte under a corrosive environment. This enhanced performance may be a combination of electrode morphology and adherence, when compared to previous work employing electrode growth temperature at 500 °C.

Enhanced Photocatalytic and Antibacterial Ability of Cu-Doped Anatase TiO2 Thin Films: Theory and Experiment

Multifunctional thin films which can display both photocatalytic and antibacterial activity are of great interest industrially. Here, for the first time, we have used aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition to deposit highly photoactive thin films of Cu-doped anatase TiO2 on glass substrates. The films displayed much enhanced photocatalytic activity relative to pure anatase and showed excellent antibacterial (vs Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli) ability. Using a combination of transient absorption spectroscopy, photoluminescence measurements, and hybrid density functional theory calculations, we have gained nanoscopic insights into the improved properties of the Cu-doped TiO2 films. Our analysis has highlighted that the interactions between substitutional and interstitial Cu in the anatase lattice can explain the extended exciton lifetimes observed in the doped samples and the enhanced UV photoactivities observed.

Photobactericidal activity activated by thiolated gold nanoclusters at low flux levels of white light

The emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria is a major threat to the practice of modern medicine. Photobactericidal agents have obtained significant attention as promising candidates to kill bacteria, and they have been extensively studied. However, to obtain photobactericidal activity, an intense white light source or UV-activation is usually required. Here we report a photobactericidal polymer containing crystal violet (CV) and thiolated gold nanocluster ([Au25(Cys)18]) activated at a low flux levels of white light. It was shown that the polymer encapsulated with CV do not have photobactericidal activity under white light illumination of an average 312 lux. However, encapsulation of [Au25(Cys)18] and CV into the polymer activates potent photobactericidal activity. The study of the photobactericidal mechanism shows that additional encapsulation of [Au25(Cys)18] into the CV treated polymer promotes redox reactions through generation of alternative electron transfer pathways, while it reduces photochemical reaction type-ІІ pathways resulting in promotion of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production.

Determining the role of oxygen vacancies in the photoelectrocatalytic performance of WO3 for water oxidation

Oxygen vacancies are common to most metal oxides, whether intentionally incorporated or otherwise, and the study of these defects is of increasing interest for solar water splitting. In this work, we examine nanostructured WO₃ photoanodes of varying oxygen content to determine how the concentration of bulk oxygen-vacancy states affects the photocatalytic performance for water oxidation. Using transient optical spectroscopy, we follow the charge carrier recombination kinetics in these samples, from picoseconds to seconds, and examine how differing oxygen vacancy concentrations impact upon these kinetics. We find that samples with an intermediate concentration of vacancies (∼2% of oxygen atoms) afford the greatest photoinduced charge carrier densities, and the slowest recombination kinetics across all timescales studied. This increased yield of photogenerated charges correlates with improved photocurrent densities under simulated sunlight, with both greater and lesser oxygen vacancy concentrations resulting in enhanced recombination losses and poorer J–V performances. Our conclusion, that an optimal – neither too high nor too low – concentration of oxygen vacancies is required for optimum photoelectrochemical performance, is discussed in terms of the competing beneficial and detrimental impact these defects have on charge separation and transport, as well as the implications held for other highly doped materials for photoelectrochemical water oxidation.

A medium concentration of oxygen vacancies (V_O ≈ 2%) is critical to the performance of WO₃ photoanodes for solar water oxidation, enhancing charge separation and reducing recombination across all timescales examined.

Charge Separation, Band-Bending, and Recombination in WO3 Photoanodes

In metal oxide-based photoelectrochemical devices, the spatial separation of photogenerated electrons and holes is typically attributed to band-bending at the oxide/electrolyte interface. However, direct evidence of such band-bending impacting upon charge carrier lifetimes has been very limited to date. Herein we use ultrafast spectroscopy to track the rapid relaxation of holes in the space-charge layer and their recombination with trapped electrons in WO₃ photoanodes. We observe that applied bias can significantly increase carrier lifetimes on all time scales from picoseconds to seconds and attribute this to enhanced band-bending correlated with changes in oxygen vacancy state occupancy. We show that analogous enhancements in carrier lifetimes can be obtained by changes in electrolyte composition, even in the absence of applied bias, highlighting routes to improve photoconversion yields/performance, through changes in band-bending. This study thus demonstrates the direct connection between carrier lifetime enhancement, increased band-bending, and oxygen vacancy defect state occupancy.

Heterojunction α-Fe2 O3 /ZnO Films with Enhanced Photocatalytic Properties Grown by Aerosol-Assisted Chemical Vapour Deposition

Type I heterojunction films of α-Fe₂ O₃ /ZnO are reported here as a non-titania based photocatalyst, which shows remarkable enhancement in the photocatalytic properties towards stearic acid degradation under UVA-light exposure (λ=365 nm), with a quantum efficiency of ξ=4.42±1.54×10^-4 molecules degraded/photon, which was about 16 times greater than that of α-Fe₂ O₃ , and 2.5 times greater than that of ZnO. Considering that the degradation of stearic acid requires 104 electron transfers for each molecule, this represents an overall quantum efficiency of 4.60 % for the α-Fe₂ O₃ /ZnO heterojunction. Time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy (TAS) revealed the charge-carrier behaviour responsible for this increase in activity. Photogenerated electrons, formed in the ZnO layer, were transferred into the α-Fe₂ O₃ layer on the pre-μs timescale, which reduced electron-hole recombination. This increased the lifetime of photogenerated holes formed in ZnO, which oxidise stearic acid. The heterojunction α-Fe₂ O₃ /ZnO films grown herein show potential environmental applications as coatings for self-cleaning windows and surfaces.

Effect of oxygen deficiency on the excited state kinetics of WO3 and implications for photocatalysis

Using WO₃ as a model material, we investigate how different oxygen vacancy concentrations affect trapping of photogenerated charges and photocatalytic reactions in metal oxides.

Oxygen vacancies are widely used to tune the light absorption of semiconducting metal oxides, but a photophysical framework describing the impact of such point defects on the dynamics of photogenerated charges, and ultimately on catalysis, is still missing. We herein use WO₃ as a model material and investigate the impact of significantly different degrees of oxygen deficiency on its excited state kinetics. For highly oxygen-deficient films, photoelectron spectroscopy shows an over 2 eV broad distribution of oxygen vacancy states within the bandgap which gives rise to extended visible light absorption. We examine the nature of this distribution using first-principles defect calculations and find that defects aggregate to form clusters rather than isolated vacancy sites. Using transient absorption spectroscopy, we observe trapping of photogenerated holes within 200 fs after excitation at high degrees of oxygen deficiency, which increases their lifetime at the expense of oxidative driving force. This loss in driving force limits the use of metal oxides with significant degrees of sub-stoichiometry to photocatalytic reactions that require low oxidation power such as pollutant degradation, and highlights the need to fine-tune vacancy state distributions for specific target reactions.

The Effect of Materials Architecture in TiO2 /MOF Composites on CO2 Photoreduction and Charge Transfer

CO₂ photoreduction to C₁ /C₁₊ energized molecules is a key reaction of solar fuel technologies. Building heterojunctions can enhance photocatalysts performance, by facilitating charge transfer between two heterojunction phases. The material parameters that control this charge transfer remain unclear. Here, it is hypothesized that governing factors for CO₂ photoreduction in gas phase are: i) a large porosity to accumulate CO₂ molecules close to catalytic sites and ii) a high number of "points of contact" between the heterojunction components to enhance charge transfer. The former requirement can be met by using porous materials; the latter requirement by controlling the morphology of the heterojunction components. Hence, composites of titanium oxide or titanate and metal-organic framework (MOF), a highly porous material, are built. TiO₂ or titanate nanofibers are synthesized and MOF particles are grown on the fibers. All composites produce CO under UV-vis light, using H₂ as reducing agent. They are more active than their component materials, e.g., ≈9 times more active than titanate. The controlled composites morphology is confirmed and transient absorption spectroscopy highlights charge transfer between the composite components. It is demonstrated that electrons transfer from TiO₂ into the MOF, and holes from the MOF into TiO₂ , as the MOF induces band bending in TiO₂ .

WO3/BiVO4: impact of charge separation at the timescale of water oxidation

Unveiling the role of applied bias on the charge carrier dynamics in the WO₃/BiVO₄ junction during water oxidation.

The four hole oxidation of water has long been considered the kinetic bottleneck for overall solar-driven water splitting, and thus requires the formation of long-lived photogenerated holes to overcome this kinetic barrier. However, photogenerated charges are prone to recombination unless they can be spatially separated. This can be achieved by coupling materials with staggered conduction and valence band positions, providing a thermodynamic driving force for charge separation. This has most aptly been demonstrated in the WO₃/BiVO₄ junction, in which quantum efficiencies for the water oxidation reaction can approach near unity. However, the charge carrier dynamics in this system remain elusive over timescales relevant to water oxidation (μs–s). In this work, the effect of charge separation on carrier lifetime, and the voltage dependence of this process, is probed using transient absorption spectroscopy and transient photocurrent measurements, revealing sub-μs electron transfer from BiVO₄ to WO₃. The interface formed between BiVO₄ and WO₃ is shown to overcome the “dead-layer effect” encountered in BiVO₄ alone. Moreover, our study sheds light on the role of the WO₃/BiVO₄ junction in enhancing the efficiency of the water oxidation reaction, where charge separation across the WO₃/BiVO₄ junction improves both the yield and lifetime of holes present in the BiVO₄ layer over timescales relevant to water oxidation.

Kinetics of Photoelectrochemical Oxidation of Methanol on Hematite Photoanodes

The kinetics of photoelectrochemical (PEC) oxidation of methanol, as a model organic substrate, on α-Fe₂O₃ photoanodes are studied using photoinduced absorption spectroscopy and transient photocurrent measurements. Methanol is oxidized on α-Fe₂O₃ to formaldehyde with near unity Faradaic efficiency. A rate law analysis under quasi-steady-state conditions of PEC methanol oxidation indicates that rate of reaction is second order in the density of surface holes on hematite and independent of the applied potential. Analogous data on anatase TiO₂ photoanodes indicate similar second-order kinetics for methanol oxidation with a second-order rate constant 2 orders of magnitude higher than that on α-Fe₂O₃. Kinetic isotope effect studies determine that the rate constant for methanol oxidation on α-Fe₂O₃ is retarded ∼20-fold by H/D substitution. Employing these data, we propose a mechanism for methanol oxidation under 1 sun irradiation on these metal oxide surfaces and discuss the implications for the efficient PEC methanol oxidation to formaldehyde and concomitant hydrogen evolution.

Comparing photoelectrochemical water oxidation, recombination kinetics and charge trapping in the three polymorphs of TiO2

In this article we present the first comparative study of the transient decay dynamics of photo-generated charges for the three polymorphs of TiO₂. To our knowledge, this is the first such study of the brookite phase of TiO₂ over timescales relevant to the kinetics of water splitting. We find that the behavior of brookite, both in the dynamics of relaxation of photo-generated charges and in energetic distribution, is similar to the anatase phase of TiO₂. Moreover, links between the rate of recombination of charge carriers, their energetic distribution and the mode of transport are made in light of our findings and used to account for the differences in water splitting efficiency observed across the three polymorphs.

Evaluation of Surface State Mediated Charge Recombination in Anatase and Rutile TiO2

In nanostructured thin films, photogenerated charge carriers can access the surface more easily than in dense films and thus react more readily. However, the high surface area of these films has also been associated with enhanced recombination losses via surface states. We herein use transient absorption spectroscopy to compare the ultrafast charge carrier kinetics in dense and nanostructured TiO₂ films for its two most widely used polymorphs: anatase and rutile. We find that nanostructuring does not enhance recombination rates on ultrafast time scales, indicating that surface state mediated recombination is not a key loss pathway for either TiO₂ polymorph. Rutile shows faster, and less intensity-dependent recombination than anatase, which we assign to its higher doping density. For both polymorphs, we conclude that bulk rather than surface recombination is the primary determinant of charge carrier lifetime.

Efficient suppression of back electron/hole recombination in cobalt phosphate surface-modified undoped bismuth vanadate photoanodes

In this paper, we compared for the first time the dynamics of photogenerated holes in BiVO₄ photoanodes with and without CoPi surface modification, employing transient absorption and photocurrent measurements on microsecond to second timescales. CoPi surface modification is known to cathodically shift the water oxidation onset potential; however, the reason for this improvement has not until now been fully understood. The transient absorption and photocurrent data were analyzed using a simple kinetic model, which allows quantification of the competition between electron/hole recombination and water oxidation. The results of this model are shown to be in excellent agreement with the measured photocurrent data. We demonstrate that the origin of the improvement of photocurrent onset resulting from CoPi treatment is primarily due to retardation of back electron/hole recombination across the space charge layer; no evidence of catalytic water oxidation via CoPi was observed.

Ultrafast charge carrier recombination and trapping in hematite photoanodes under applied bias

Transient absorption spectroscopy on subpicosecond to second time scales is used to investigate photogenerated charge carrier recombination in Si-doped nanostructured hematite (α-Fe2O3) photoanodes as a function of applied bias. For unbiased hematite, this recombination exhibits a 50% decay time of ~6 ps, ~10(3) times faster than that of TiO2 under comparable conditions. Anodic bias significantly retards hematite recombination dynamics, and causes the appearance of electron trapping on ps-μs time scales. These ultrafast recombination dynamics, their retardation by applied bias, and the associated electron trapping are discussed in terms of their implications for efficient water oxidation.

Combinatorial atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition of graded TiO₂-VO₂ mixed-phase composites and their dual functional property as self-cleaning and photochromic window coatings

A combinatorial film with a phase gradient from V:TiO₂ (V: Ti ≥ 0.08), through a range of TiO₂-VO₂ composites, to a vanadium-rich composite (V: Ti = 1.81) was grown by combinatorial atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (cAPCVD). The film was grown from the reaction of TiCl₄, VCl₄, ethyl acetate (EtAc), and H₂O at 550 °C on glass. The gradient in gas mixtures across the reactor induced compositional film growth, producing a single film with numerous phases and compositions at different positions. Seventeen unique positions distributed evenly along a central horizontal strip were investigated. The physical properties were characterized by wavelength dispersive X-ray (WDX) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV-visible spectroscopy. The functional properties examined included the degree of photoinduced hydrophilicity (PIH), UVC-photocatalysis, and thermochromism. Superhydrophilic contact angles could be achieved at all positions, even within a highly VO₂-rich composite (V: Ti = 1.81). A maximum level of UVC photocatalysis was observed at a position bordering the solubility limit of V:TiO₂ (V: Ti ≈ 0.21) and fragmentation into a mixed-phase composite. Within the mixed-phase TiO₂: VO₂ composition region (V: Ti = 1.09 to 1.81) a decrease in the semiconductor-to-metal transition temperature of VO₂ from 68 to 51 °C was observed.

Superhydrophobic photocatalytic surfaces through direct incorporation of titania nanoparticles into a polymer matrix by aerosol assisted chemical vapor deposition

A new class of superhydrophobic photocatalytic surfaces that are self-cleaning through light-induced photodegradation and the Lotus effect are presented. The films are formed in a single-step aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD) process. The films are durable and show no degradation on continuous exposure to UV-C radiation.

Combinatorial atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (cAPCVD): a route to functional property optimization

We demonstrate how combinatorial atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (cAPCVD) can be used as a synthetic tool for rapidly optimizing the functional properties of thin-films, by analyzing the self-cleaning properties of tungsten doped anatase as an example. By introducing reagents at separate points inside the reactor, a tungsten/titanium compositional gradient was formed and a diverse range of film growth conditions were obtained. By partially mixing the metal sources, a combinatorial film with a compositional profile that varied primarily in the lateral plane was synthesized. A combinatorial thin-film of anatase TiO(2) doped with an array of tungsten levels as a solid solution ranging from 0.38-13.8 W/Ti atom % was formed on a single glass substrate. The compositional-functional relationships were understood through comprehensively analyzing combinatorial phase space, with 200 positions investigated by high-throughput methods in this study. Physical and functional properties, and their compositional dependencies, were intercorrelated. It was found that increases in photocatalytic activity and conductivity were most highly dependent on film crystallinity within the 0.38-13.8 atom % W/Ti doping regime. However, enhancements in photoinduced surface wetting were primarily dependent on increases in preferred growth in the (211) crystal plane.