High-density triple-phase contact points for enhanced photocatalytic CO_(2) reduction to methanol

The efficiency of photocatalytic CO_(2) reduction reaction(PCRR)is restricted by the low solubility and mobility of CO_(2) in water,poor CO_(2) adsorption capacity of catalyst,and competition with hydrogen evolution reaction(HER).Recently,hydrophobic modification of the catalyst surface has been proposed as a potential solution to induce the formation of triple-phase contact points(TPCPs)of CO_(2)(gas phase),H_(2) O(liquid phase),and catalysts(solid phase)near the surface of the catalyst,enabling direct delivery of highly concentrated CO_(2) molecules to the active reaction sites,resulting in higher CO_(2) and lower H+surface concentrations.The TPCPs thus act as the ideal reaction points with enhanced PCRR and suppressed HER.However,the initial synthesis of triple-phase photocatalysts tends to possess a lower bulk density of TPCPs due to the simple structure leading to limited active points and CO_(2) adsorption sites.Here,based on constructing a hydrophobic hierarchical porous TiO_(2)(o-HPT)with interconnected macropores and mesopores structure,we have significantly increased the density of TPCPs in a unit volume of the photocatalyst.Compared with hydrophobic macroporous TiO_(2)(o-MacPT)or mesoporous TiO_(2)(o-MesPT),the o-HPT with increased TPCP density leads to enhanced photoactivity,enabling a high methanol production rate with 1111.5μmol g^(−1) h^(−1) from PCRR.These results emphasize the significance of high-density TPCPs design and propose a potential path for developing efficient PCRR systems.

Enhanced charge separation by continuous homojunction with spatially separated redox sites for hydrogen evolution

Photocatalytic hydrogen generation represents a promising strategy for the establishment of a sustainable and environmentally friendly energy reservoir.However,the current solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency is not yet sufficient for practical hydrogen production,highlighting the need for further research and development.Here,we report the synthesis of a Sn-doped TiO_(2)continuous homojunction hollow sphere,achieved through controlled calcination time.The incorporation of a gradient doping profile has been demonstrated to generate a gradient in the band edge energy,facilitating carrier orientation migration.Furthermore,the hollow sphere’s outer and inner sides provide spatially separated reaction sites allowing for the separate acceptance of holes and electrons,which enables the rapid utilization of carriers after separation.As a result,the hollow sphere TiO_(2)with gradient Sn doping exhibits a significantly increased hydrogen production rate of 20.1 mmol·g^(−1)·h^(−1).This study offers a compelling and effective approach to the designing and fabricating highly efficient nanostructured photocatalysts for solar energy conversion applications.