Issue 1, 2017

Achievement of visible-light-driven Z-scheme overall water splitting using barium-modified Ta3N5 as a H2-evolving photocatalyst

Abstract

Ta3N5 is one of the most promising photocatalyst candidates for solar water splitting, but it still remains challenging to achieve overall water splitting via Ta3N5-based photocatalysts regardless of whether it uses a one step or two step method. Here we will address the relatively poor photocatalytic proton reduction of Ta3N5 with an effort for the promotion of charge separation via barium modification. One-pot nitridation of barium nitrate-impregnated Ta2O5 precursor was adopted here for the synthesis of Ta3N5 accompanied with the creation of a Ta3N5/BaTaO2N heterostructure and surface passivation. Due to the synergetic effect of the improved interfacial charge separation and the decreased defect density, the photocatalytic H2 evolution rate of barium-modified Ta3N5 is effectively promoted. Encouraged by this, a visible-light-driven Z-scheme overall water splitting system was successfully constructed by using the barium-modified Ta3N5 as a H2-evolving photocatalyst, together with a PtOx/WO3 and IO3/I pair as an O2-evolving photocatalyst and a redox mediator, respectively.

Graphical abstract: Achievement of visible-light-driven Z-scheme overall water splitting using barium-modified Ta3N5 as a H2-evolving photocatalyst

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
22 Jun 2016
Accepted
18 Aug 2016
First published
18 Aug 2016
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY license

Chem. Sci., 2017,8, 437-443

Achievement of visible-light-driven Z-scheme overall water splitting using barium-modified Ta3N5 as a H2-evolving photocatalyst

Y. Qi, S. Chen, M. Li, Q. Ding, Z. Li, J. Cui, B. Dong, F. Zhang and C. Li, Chem. Sci., 2017, 8, 437 DOI: 10.1039/C6SC02750D

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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