Oxysulfide-Based Photocatalyst Sheet Modified with Silica Layer for Z-Scheme Overall Water Splitting at Atmospheric Pressure
Authors: Nandy Swarnava , Hisatomi Takashi , Takata Tsuyoshi , Domen Kazunari 
Published: February 2024

Photocatalytic water splitting using particulate photocatalysts is considered as an ideal route to produce economically cheap renewable, and transportable H2 utilizing sunlight [1]. Photocatalyst sheets are directly scalable and have recently gained interest because a benchmark STH conversion efficiency of 1.0% was achieved at near ambient pressure using the one composed of Rh, La-codoped SrTiO3 and Mo-doped BiVO4 (BVO:Mo) as the H2- and O2- evolution photocatalysts (HEP and OEP), respectively. However, such systems absorb only a little portion of the sunlight due to the weak visible light absorption of the doped SrTiO3 [2]. To utilize longer wavelength visible light, our group has recently studied photocatalyst sheets composed of Ga-doped La5Ti2Cu0.9Ag0.1O7S5 (LTCA:Ga) (HEP) and BVO:Mo (OEP) with Au as conducting layer. The combination of LTCA:Ga/Au/BVO:Mo modified with Rh/Cr2O3 and CoO
x
as reduction and oxidation cocatalysts, respectively, achieved an STH efficiency of 0.4% under reduced pressure, but this was far lower than the oxide-based sheet system and the activity was decreased sharply against background pressure [3]. Considering intense visible light absorption of LTCA (λabs
~ 700 nm) and the associated maximum theoretical energy conversion efficiency for this combination, improvements in the net STH efficiency and activation under atmospheric pressure is highly indispensable.

In this study, LTCA photocatalysts with different dopants were applied to the sheet system in combination with hydrothermally synthesized BVO:Mo and the resulting sheets were modified with CoO
x
/Cr2O3/Rh cocatalysts in an attempt to upgrade the water splitting activity. Moreover, surface modification onto LTCA-based photocatalyst sheets with a thin amorphous TiO2 and SiO2 layer were evaluated at elevated pressure and high temperature.

Doped LTCA were synthesized by a conventional solid-state reaction in sealed evacuated quartz tubes similar to previous studies [3]. Precursors were blended inside a glove box. BVO:Mo (Mo 0.1 mol%) was synthesized by a hydrothermal method [4]. Photocatalyst sheet was fabricated by the particle transfer method [3]. SiO2 and TiO2 layers functioning as molecular sieves were deposited onto the cocatalyst-modified sheet from titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) or tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) by photo-decomposition and hydrolysis method, respectively, to prevent backward reactions at elevated pressure [5]. Photocatalytic water splitting reaction was carried out at different temperatures and pressures using a closed gas circulation system.

Rh cocatalyst was first adsorbed and photo-deposited onto the doped LTCA/Au/BVO:Mo(h) sheet [3]. Gas evolution rates were significantly enhanced upon deposition of Cr2O3 layer as the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), a backward reaction, was majorly suppressed promoted by uncovered Rh surface under the measured condition. Photocatalyst sheet composed of doped LTCA/Au/BVO:Mo(h) with optimal dopant amounts and cocatalysts loadings showed the H2 and O2 evolution rates of 110 and 54 µmol/h, respectively, under visible light irradiation and yielded an STH of 0.67% at 4 kPa and temperature 301 K [6]. The water splitting activity was improved by 1.6 times under reduced pressure compared to the previously studied LTCAGa/Au/BVO:Mo. However, this activity was highly sensitive against background pressure as nearly 90% reduced upon increasing pressure from 2 to 90 kPa owing to the predominating ORR occurring on LTCA and exposed Au surface. To suppress this backward reaction, TiO2 layer was coated to suppress ORR but the sheet failed to work at a temperature higher than 318 K due to the condensation of such layer. However, SiO2 layer coated sheet effectively suppressed ORR backward reaction and stably work under hot water and elevated pressure [6]. Consequently, under optimized condition SiO2 deposited sheet achieved an STH of 0.4% at 90 kPa at temperature 333 K.

Doped LTCA materials were applied to the photocatalyst sheet systems as HEP along with BVO:Mo and Au layer as OEP and conductive layer, respectively, for Z-scheme pure water splitting under visible light. This combination achieved an STH of 0.67% at reduced pressure. This STH is considered as one of the highest values recorded for OWS systems involving non-oxide photocatalysts. The activity of the photocatalyst sheet was found negatively dependent onto background pressure due to the ORR on LTCA and Au layer. Surface modifications with SiO2 layer activated the sheet under atmospheric pressure. These findings will contribute to the improvement in the STH for other systems under realistic condition where OWS is likely to be conducted at an ambient pressure.

References

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Nandy et al. Joule, 2023, under revision.