The efficiency of photo-electrocatalytic（PECa） devices for the production of solar fuels depends on several limiting factors such as light harvesting, charge recombination and mass transport diffusion. We analyse he...The efficiency of photo-electrocatalytic（PECa） devices for the production of solar fuels depends on several limiting factors such as light harvesting, charge recombination and mass transport diffusion. We analyse here how they influence the performances in PECa cells having a photo-anode based on Au-modified TiOnanotube（TNT） arrays, with the aim of developing design criteria to optimize the photo-anode and the PECa cell configuration for water photo-electrolysis（splitting） and ethanol photo-reforming processes.The TNT samples were prepared by controlled anodic oxidation of Ti foils and then decorated with gold nanoparticles using different techniques to enhance the visible light response through heterojunction and plasmonic effects. The activity tests were made in a gas-phase reactor, as well as in a PECa cell without applied bias. Results were analysed in terms of photo-generated current, Hproduction rate and photoconversion efficiency. Particularly, a solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 0.83% and a Faradaic efficiency of 91%were obtained without adding sacrificial reagents.展开更多
TiO2 nanotube （TNT） arrays were fabricated by anodic oxidation of titanium foil in a fluoride- based solution, on which Cu20 particles were loaded via galvanostatic pulse electrodeposition in cupric acetate solution...TiO2 nanotube （TNT） arrays were fabricated by anodic oxidation of titanium foil in a fluoride- based solution, on which Cu20 particles were loaded via galvanostatic pulse electrodeposition in cupric acetate solutions in the absence of any other additives. The structure and optical properties of Cu2O-loaded TiO2 nanotube arrays （Cu2O-TNTs） were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, X-ray diffraction （XRD） and UV-Vis absorption, and the photoelectrochemical performance was measured using an electrochemical work station with a three-electrode configuration. The results show that the Cu2O particles distribute uniformly on the highly ordered anatase TiO2 nanotube arrays. The morphologies of Cu2O crystals change from branched, truncated octahedrons to dispersive single octahedrons with increasing deposition current densities. The Cu2O- TNTs exhibited remarkable visible light responses with obvious visible light absorption and greatly enhanced visible light photoelectrochemical performance. The I-V characteristics under visible light irradiation show a distinct plateau in the region between approximately -0.3 and 0 V, resulting in higher open-circuit voltages and larger short-circuit currents with increased Cu2O deposition.展开更多
基金The TERRA(Tandem Electrocatalytic Reactor for energy/Resource efficiency and process intensification,H2020 project 677471)Eco~2CO_2(Eco-friendly biorefinery fine chemicals from CO_2 photo-catalytic reduction,FP7 project 309701)
文摘The efficiency of photo-electrocatalytic（PECa） devices for the production of solar fuels depends on several limiting factors such as light harvesting, charge recombination and mass transport diffusion. We analyse here how they influence the performances in PECa cells having a photo-anode based on Au-modified TiOnanotube（TNT） arrays, with the aim of developing design criteria to optimize the photo-anode and the PECa cell configuration for water photo-electrolysis（splitting） and ethanol photo-reforming processes.The TNT samples were prepared by controlled anodic oxidation of Ti foils and then decorated with gold nanoparticles using different techniques to enhance the visible light response through heterojunction and plasmonic effects. The activity tests were made in a gas-phase reactor, as well as in a PECa cell without applied bias. Results were analysed in terms of photo-generated current, Hproduction rate and photoconversion efficiency. Particularly, a solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 0.83% and a Faradaic efficiency of 91%were obtained without adding sacrificial reagents.
基金Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.51175363)the Youth Staff Fund of Taiyuan University of Technology(Nos.K201016,K201013)+1 种基金the Specialized Fund for Innovative of College Students of Taiyuan City(No.09122018)the Program for Changjiang Scholar and Innovative Research Team in University(No.IRT0972)
文摘TiO2 nanotube （TNT） arrays were fabricated by anodic oxidation of titanium foil in a fluoride- based solution, on which Cu20 particles were loaded via galvanostatic pulse electrodeposition in cupric acetate solutions in the absence of any other additives. The structure and optical properties of Cu2O-loaded TiO2 nanotube arrays （Cu2O-TNTs） were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, X-ray diffraction （XRD） and UV-Vis absorption, and the photoelectrochemical performance was measured using an electrochemical work station with a three-electrode configuration. The results show that the Cu2O particles distribute uniformly on the highly ordered anatase TiO2 nanotube arrays. The morphologies of Cu2O crystals change from branched, truncated octahedrons to dispersive single octahedrons with increasing deposition current densities. The Cu2O- TNTs exhibited remarkable visible light responses with obvious visible light absorption and greatly enhanced visible light photoelectrochemical performance. The I-V characteristics under visible light irradiation show a distinct plateau in the region between approximately -0.3 and 0 V, resulting in higher open-circuit voltages and larger short-circuit currents with increased Cu2O deposition.
