Issue 21, 2017

Near-infrared-activated NaYF4:Yb3+, Er3+/Au/CdS for H2 production via photoreforming of bio-ethanol: plasmonic Au as light nanoantenna, energy relay, electron sink and co-catalyst

Abstract

A sandwich-structured NaYF4:Yb3+, Er3+/Au/CdS architecture, as an up-conversion-involved photocatalyst for H2 production through photoreforming of renewable bio-ethanol, was constructed successfully. The Au nanoparticles embedded in the NaYF4:Yb3+, Er3+/CdS interface play a quadruplex role to improve the solar utilization efficiency. First, plasmonic Au works as a light nanoantenna to harvest more incident light. Second, plasmonic Au acts as an energy relay, in which Au SPR-induced Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) and plasmonic resonance energy transfer (PRET) synergistically facilitate the energy transfer from NaYF4:Yb3+, Er3+ to Au to CdS. Third, Au acts as an electron sink to promote electron–hole separation. Lastly, Au serves as a co-catalyst to activate H2 evolution from bio-ethanol. The multifunctional Au makes NaYF4:Yb3+, Er3+/Au/CdS exhibit enhanced NIR-driven photocatalytic bio-ethanol reforming activity. Moreover, NaYF4:Yb3+, Er3+/Au/CdS shows superior photoactivity under simulated sunlight. This unique fabrication has implications for the rational design of highly efficient solar-energy-harvesting devices.

Graphical abstract: Near-infrared-activated NaYF4:Yb3+, Er3+/Au/CdS for H2 production via photoreforming of bio-ethanol: plasmonic Au as light nanoantenna, energy relay, electron sink and co-catalyst

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
18 Mar 2017
Accepted
25 Apr 2017
First published
25 Apr 2017

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2017,5, 10311-10320

Near-infrared-activated NaYF4:Yb3+, Er3+/Au/CdS for H2 production via photoreforming of bio-ethanol: plasmonic Au as light nanoantenna, energy relay, electron sink and co-catalyst

W. Feng, L. Zhang, Y. Zhang, Y. Yang, Z. Fang, B. Wang, S. Zhang and P. Liu, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2017, 5, 10311 DOI: 10.1039/C7TA02402A

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