Position-selected cocatalyst modification on a Z-scheme Cd_(0.5)Zn_(0.5)S/NiTiO_(3) photocatalyst for boosted H_(2) evolution

Photocatalytic water splitting by semiconductors is a promising technology to produce clean H_(2) fuel,but the efficiency is restrained seriously by the high overpotential of the H_(2)-evolution reaction together with the high recombination rate of photoinduced charges.To enhance H_(2) production,it is highly desirable yet challenging to explore an efficient reductive cocatalyst and place it precisely on the right sites of the photocatalyst surface to work the proton reduction reaction exclusively.Herein,the metalloid NixP cocatalyst is exactly positioned on the Z-scheme Cd_(0.5)Zn_(0.5)S/NiTiO_(3)(CZS/NTO)heterostructure through a facile photodeposition strategy,which renders the cocatalyst form solely at the electron-collecting locations.It is revealed that the directional transfer of photoexcited electrons from Cd_(0.5)Zn_(0.5)S to Ni_(x)P suppresses the quenching of charge carriers.Under visible light,the CZS/NTO hybrid loaded with the Ni_(x)P cocatalyst exhibits an optimal H_(2) yield rate of 1103μmol h^(-1)(i.e.,27.57 mmol h^(-1)g^(-1)),which is about twofold of pristine CZS/NTO and comparable to the counterpart deposited with the Pt cocatalyst.Besides,the high apparent quantum yield(AQY)of 56%is reached at 400 nm.Further,the mechanisms of the cocatalyst formation and the H2 generation reaction are discussed in detail.

Dynamic cooperations between lattice oxygen and oxygen vacancies for photocatalytic ethane dehydrogenation by a self-restoring LaVO_(4)catalyst

Thermocatalytic nonoxidative ethane dehydrogenation(EDH)is a promising strategy for ethene production but suffers from intense energy consumption and poor catalyst durability;exploring technology that permits efficient EDH by solar energy remains a giant challenge.Herein,we present that an oxygen vacancy(O_v)-rich LaVO_(4)(LaVO_(4)-O_v)catalyst is highly active and stable for photocatalytic EDH,through a dynamic lattice oxygen(O_(latt.))and O_(v)co-mediated mechanism.Irradiated by simulated sunlight at mild conditions,LaVO_(4)-O_(v)effectively dehydrogenates undiluted ethane to produce C_(2)H_(4)and CO with a conversion of 2.3%.By loading a small amount of Pt cocatalyst,the evolution and selectivity of C_(2)H_(4)are enhanced to 275μmol h^(-1)g^(-1)and 96.8%.Of note,LaVO_(4)-O_(v)appears nearly no carbon deposition after the reaction.The isotope tracked reactions reveal that the consumed O_(latt.)recuperates by exposing the used catalyst with O_(2),thus establishing a dynamic cycle of O_(latt.)and achieving a facile catalyst regeneration to preserve its intrinsic activity.The refreshed LaVO_(4)-O_(v)exhibits superior reusability and delivers a turnover number of about 305.The O_(v)promotes photo absorption,boosts ethane adsorption/activation,and accelerates charge separation/transfer,thus improving the photocatalytic efficiency.The possible photocatalytic EDH mechanism is proposed,considering the key intermediates predicted by density functional theory(DFT)and monitored by in-situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy(DRIFTS).