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TiO₂-HfN radial nano-heterojunction: a hot carrier photoanode for sunlight-driven water-splitting

From National Research Council Canada

Alternative titleTiO2-HfN radial nano-heterojunction: a hot carrier photoanode for sunlight-driven water-splitting
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DOIResolve DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/catal11111374
AuthorSearch for: ; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7853-0544; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5107-6086; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5295-1057; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1044-9576; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2456-396X; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2804-9298; Search for: 1; Search for: 1; Search for: 1ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2033-705X; Search for: ; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7347-3333
Affiliation
  1. National Research Council Canada. Nanotechnology
FormatText, Article
Subjectplasmonic catalysis; hot carrier absorber; ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy; density functional theory; FDTD electromagnetic simulations; transition metal nitrides
Abstract
The lack of active, stable, earth-abundant, and visible-light absorbing materials to replace plasmonic noble metals is a critical obstacle for researchers in developing highly efficient and cost-effective photocatalytic systems. Herein, a core–shell nanotube catalyst was fabricated consisting of atomic layer deposited HfN shell and anodic TiO₂ support layer with full-visible regime photoactivity for photoelectrochemical water splitting. The HfN active layer has two unique characteristics: (1) A large bandgap between optical and acoustic phonon modes and (2) No electronic bandgap, which allows a large population of long life-time hot carriers, which are used to enhance the photoelectrochemical performance. The photocurrent density (≈2.5 mA·cm⁻² at 1 V vs. Ag/AgCl) obtained in this study under AM 1.5G 1 Sun illumination is unprecedented, as it is superior to most existing plasmonic noble metal-decorated catalysts and surprisingly indicates a photocurrent response that extends to 730 nm. The result demonstrates the far-reaching application potential of replacing active HER/HOR noble metals such as Au, Ag, Pt, Pd, etc. with low-cost plasmonic ceramics.
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PublisherMDPI
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  • Catalysts 11, no. 11, 1374 (14 November 2021): 1–13.
LanguageEnglish
Peer reviewedYes
NRC numberNRC-NANO-182
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Record identifiere6497654-d40e-4779-9c4d-904c75df283f
Record created2021-12-24
Record modified2021-12-24
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