Issue 2, 2015

Nano-design of quantum dot-based photocatalysts for hydrogen generation using advanced surface molecular chemistry

Abstract

Efficient photocatalytic hydrogen generation in a suspension system requires a sophisticated nano-device that combines a photon absorber with effective redox catalysts. This study demonstrates an innovative molecular linking strategy for fabricating photocatalytic materials that allow effective charge separation of excited carriers, followed by efficient hydrogen evolution. The method for the sequential replacement of ligands with appropriate molecules developed in this study tethers both quantum dots (QDs), as photosensitizers, and metal nanoparticles, as hydrogen evolution catalysts, to TiO2 surfaces in a controlled manner at the nano-level. Combining hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions on the surface, CdSe–ZnS core–shell QDs and an Au–Pt alloy were attached to TiO2 without overlapping during the synthesis. The resultant nano-photocatalysts achieved substantially high-performance visible-light-driven photocatalysis for hydrogen evolution. All syntheses were conducted at room temperature and in ambient air, providing a promising route for fabricating visible-light-responsive photocatalysts.

Graphical abstract: Nano-design of quantum dot-based photocatalysts for hydrogen generation using advanced surface molecular chemistry

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
27 Sep 2014
Accepted
07 Nov 2014
First published
12 Nov 2014

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2015,17, 1001-1009

Nano-design of quantum dot-based photocatalysts for hydrogen generation using advanced surface molecular chemistry

W. Yu, D. Noureldine, T. Isimjan, B. Lin, S. Del Gobbo, M. Abulikemu, M. N. Hedhili, D. H. Anjum and K. Takanabe, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2015, 17, 1001 DOI: 10.1039/C4CP04365K

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