Query: Metal  sulphide  semiconductors  for  photocatalytic  hydrogen  production

Candidate papers:

abstract: Photocatalytic hydrogen production using semiconductor materials is one of the ideal processes for direct solar energy conversion. Sulphide semiconductor photocatalysts have attracted much attention due to their excellent solar spectrum responses and high photocatalytic activities. This article presents recent research progress in the development of visible light driven sulphide photocatalysts, focusing on the expansion of solar spectrum response and enhancement of charge separation efficiency. As is known, the ultimate goal of photocatalytic hydrogen production is to meet the practical energy demand of human beings. Thus, design of highly efficient and low cost sulphide photocatalysts with excellent sunlight response is highly desired. So we also highlight the crucial issues in the development of highly efficient sulphide photocatalysts without noble metal cocatalysts. The present paper is expected to provide important scientific reference for future works. Finally, the challenges and perspectives in this area are also discussed.
author_names: Kai Zhang

Liejin Guo
title: Metal sulphide semiconductors for photocatalytic hydrogen production
year: 2013

abstract: Abstract Establishing efficient co catalytic loaded semiconductors for efficient charge separation is a hopeful way for enhance photocatalytic water splitting hydrogen evolution. Herein, we successfully constructed the Cd0.5Zn0.5S/Ni2P (CZS/Ni2P) nanocomposites via two step hydrothermal method. The CZS/Ni2P composites show much improved activity than the origin CZS for photocatalytic H2 generation. When the content of Ni2P loaded on the Cd0.5Zn0.5S (CZS) is 0.3 mol% the photocatalyst achieves the highest photocatalytic hydrogen generation rate of 41.26 mmol g 1 h 1 under visible light. The Ni S bonds on the close contact interface between CZS and Ni2P can be act as electron bridge to provide a channel for electron transfer. During the photocatalysis processing, Ni2P can be used as electron traps to attract electrons from CZS, resulting in the improvement of the photocatalytic performance.
author_names: Tianpeng Yu

Yingying Si

Zunhang Lv

Kaihang Wang

Qiang Zhang

Xin Liu

Guixue Wang

Guangwen Xie

Luhua Jiang
title: Cd0.5Zn0.5S/Ni2P noble metal free photocatalyst for high efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production: Ni2P boosting separation of photocarriers
year: 2019

abstract: Abstract Searching a sustainable way to efficiently produce hydrogen (H2) is critical to realizing the "hydrogen economy" which may resolve the global energy and environmental issues nowadays. The conversion of solar energy to hydrogen energy based on photocatalytic water splitting is an ideal technology for environmental friendly and economically producing H2. Exploring high performance and earth abundant cocatalysts that can replace noble metal based cocatalysts is essential to achieving highly efficient and cost effective photocatalytic H2 production. In recent years, transition metal phosphides (TMPs) have been regarded as promising candidates to replace noble metal based cocatalysts for photocatalytic H2 production. This review presents a panorama of the latest progress in the developments of TMPs for photocatalytic H2 production. Concretely, this review starts with the functions of TMPs in photocatalytic H2 production, followed by the synthetic strategies of TMPs and the loading methods of TMPs on semiconductors. Then the application and mechanism of the common TMPs in photocatalytic H2 production are discussed in detail, including iron phosphides, cobalt phosphides and nickel phosphides. Lastly, we provide a comprehensive conclusion and outlook on the major challenges and opportunities for better developments in the future research. It is reasonable to believe that the TMPs is a rising star in photocatalytic H2 production.
author_names: Yang Yang

Chengyun Zhou

Wenjun Wang

Weiping Xiong

Guangming Zeng

Danlian Huang

Chen Zhang

Biao Song

Wen-jing Xue

Xiaopei Li

Ziwei Wang

Donghui He

Hanzhuo Luo

Ze-lin Ouyang
title: Recent advances in application of transition metal phosphides for photocatalytic hydrogen production
year: 2021

abstract: The construction of both highly efficient and stable hybrid artificial photosynthetic systems comprising semiconductors as photosensitizers and abundant metal based molecular complexes as cocatalysts for photocatalytic H2 generation remains challenging. Herein, we report an effective and stable CdS/cobaloxime hybrid system prepared by inserting an amorphous TiO2 (a TiO2) interlayer with adjustable thickness and by covalently surface attaching molecular cobaloxime catalysts. This hybrid system displayed outstanding photocatalytic H2 production and reached a maximum rate of ~25 mmol g 1 h 1, which was ~20.8 times that of pure CdS and 1.7 times that of the CdS/cobaloxime system without an a TiO2 interlayer (CdS/Co) More importantly, 6 nm a TiO2 uniformly coated CdS nanorods (CdS NRs) exhibited exceptional 200 h long term catalytic behaviour under =420 nm visible light irradiation. However, the H2 production performance of the CdS/Co hybrid system decreased significantly over 10 h. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicated that the a TiO2 surface can provide abundant bonding sites for the effective immobilization of molecular catalysts. Moreover, Mott Schottky electrochemical measurements and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy revealed that the a TiO2 interlayer had favourable band levels that could fasten the photoexcited electron transfer from CdS to molecular cobaloxime and could extract holes with intraband electronic states generated by defects, thus prohibiting CdS photocorrosion and improving the stability of the hybrid system. This study proposes a strategy for designing multifunctional interlayers for the effective immobilization of molecular catalysts, beneficial regulation of photoinduced charge carriers, and improvement of the stability as well as facilitation of the construction of artificial photosynthetic hybrid systems with high efficiency and durability.
author_names: Hongkai Zhao

Xiaoxia Li

Mingyue Zheng

Xian Zhao

Qun Zhang

Yi Luo

Weiliu Fan
title: Amorphous TiO2 as a multifunctional interlayer for boosting the efficiency and stability of the CdS/cobaloxime hybrid system for photocatalytic hydrogen production.
venue: Nanoscale
year: 2020

abstract: Transition metal nitrides (TMNs) are emerging as a feasible alternative to noble metal co catalysts in photocatalytic hydrogen production. Considering the recent prospects created by multicomponent systems, it is reasonable to investigate multi component TMNs for photocatalytic hydrogen production. Herein, in an effort in that direction, ternary chromium titanium nitride (Cr0.5Ti0.5N) nanoparticles have been synthesized by a solid solid phase separation method, resulting in highly efficient co catalysts for promoting photocatalytic hydrogen production of semiconductors under visible light irradiation. Both experimental results and density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrate that ternary Cr0.5Ti0.5N offers a comprehensive advantage by boosting the photo induced charge carrier separation and migration, improving the reaction kinetics as compared to those of TiN and CrN. Therefore, the optimal Cr0.5Ti0.5N based sample exhibits the highest photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate of 2.44 mmol g 1 h 1, and has ~120 times better kinetics than the reference pure CdS sample. In fact, this result even surpasses that of Pt based nanocomposites (2.06 mmol g 1 h 1)
author_names: Xiangjian Meng

Weiliang Qi

Wandi Kuang

Samira Adimi

Haichuan Guo

Tiju Thomas

Siqi Liu

Zhenping Wang

Minghui Yang
title: Chromium titanium nitride as an efficient co catalyst for photocatalytic hydrogen production
year: 2020

abstract: The utilizing of solar energy to produce hydrogen from water is showing an increasing importance and desirability in the field of artificial photosynthesis to produce clean and sustainable fuels. In a typical three components dye sensitized semiconductor system for photocatalysis, the dye sensitizer plays an essential role of energy antenna for harvesting visible light and promoting the reduction reaction to generate hydrogen. In the recent decades, a lot of attention has focused on metal free organic sensitizers, which have the advantages of low price, high molar extinction coefficient, good modifiability and, most importantly, avoiding the use of noble metal ions. This review enumerates the design strategies, specific properties and photocatalytic performances of metal free sensitizers in the past 30 years and concludes their evolution process. The advantages of different type of metal free sensitizers are highlighted and the instructively enlightening experiences are systematic summarized.
author_names: Jianfeng Huang

Yang Lei

Teng Luo

Jun-Min Liu
title: Photocatalytic H2 production from water by metal free dye sensitized TiO2 semiconductors: The role and development process of organic sensitizers.
venue: ChemSusChem
year: 2020

abstract: Abstract TiO2 is widely accepted as a promising photocatalyst for hydrogen generation due to its low cost, environmental friendliness and good photocatalytic property and stability. However, its spread application is largely hindered by the limited light adsorption efficiency and rapid recombination of photo generated electrons and holes. In order to solve these issues, hybridization of TiO2 with other narrow bandgap semiconductors and introduction of conductive metal species are considered as two effective approaches. In this work, we synthesized a Au Cu nanoalloy/TiO2/MoS2 ternary hybrid to achieve much enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen generation activity than the individual counterparts of TiO2 and TiO2/MoS2 by bridging Au Cu nanoalloy with TiO2/MoS2 nanosheets. A variety of material characterization and photocatalytic analysis reveal that the enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen generation activity of the TiO2/MoS2/Au Cu hybrid is mainly attributed to the synergistic effect between Au Cu nanoalloy and TiO2/MoS2 nanosheets. The rational combination of the ternary hybrid improves the sunlight utilization efficiency and facilitates the separation of photo generated electron hole pairs. This work provides a good example for the design and development of advanced TiO2 based photocatalysts.
author_names: Yuying Liu

Chenxi Xu

Yu Xie

Liming Yang

Yun Ling

Liang Chen
title: Au Cu nanoalloy/TiO2/MoS2 ternary hybrid with enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production
year: 2020

abstract: The generation of photocatalytic hydrogen via water splitting under light irradiation is attracting much attention as an alternative to solve such problems as global warming and to increase interest in clean energy. However, due to the low efficiency and selectivity of photocatalytic hydrogen production under solar energy, a major challenge persists to improve the performance of photocatalytic hydrogen production through water splitting. In recent years, graphitic carbon nitride (g C3N4) a non metal photocatalyst, has emerged as an attractive material for photocatalytic hydrogen production. However, the fast recombination of photoexcited electron hole pairs limits the rate of hydrogen evolution and various methods such as modification, heterojunctions with semiconductors, and metal and non metal doping have been applied to solve this problem. In this review, we cover the rational design of g C3N4 based photocatalysts achieved using methods such as modification, metal and non metal doping, and heterojunctions, and we summarize recent achievements in their application as hydrogen production photocatalysts. In addition, future research and prospects of hydrogen producing photocatalysts are also reviewed.
author_names: Seong Jun Mun

Soo-Jin Park
title: Graphitic Carbon Nitride Materials for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production via Water Splitting: A Short Review
venue: Catalysts
year: 2019

abstract: Abstract CdS, as semiconductor catalyst, has attracted much attention in photocatalytic production of hydrogen for the wide range utilization of visible light. Usually, noble metal deposited as a co catalyst on CdS surface is required to achieve high photocatalytic activity. Thus, replacing noble metal via cheap and easy synthesis co catalyst would be of great value for developing cost effective photocatalyst. In this work, noble metal free defective Mo15S19 combined with CdS diethylenetriamine (DETA) hybrid makes efficient separation of photoinduced carriers, and more importantly, reduced overpotential for hydrogen evolution reaction, thereby improved catalytic hydrogen evolution performance of designed composite. In particular, 3%Mo15S19/CdS DETA systems exhibited a high rate of hydrogen production, reaching 3.61 mmol g 1 h 1, which is similar with 3%Pt/CdS DETA and 9.5 and 2.19 times as high as that of CdS nanoparticles (NPs) and CdS DETA, respectively. At the same time, photocorrosion resistance of 3%Mo15S19/CdS DETA systems was dramatically improved. According to DFT theoretical calculations, it was found that the enhanced photocatalytic performance and anticorrosion are mainly due to efficient transfer of photoexcited electrons from CdS DETA to Mo15S19.
author_names: Zhen Li

Yang Yang

Kai Dai

Jinfeng Zhang

Luhua Lu
title: Construction of defective Mo15S19/CdS diethylenetriamine heterosctructure photocatalyst for highly active and stable noble metal free photocatalytic hydrogen production
venue: Applied Surface Science
year: 2019

abstract: The production of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is usually carried out either via catalytic decomposition of methane or by recrystallization of bio char species obtained by pyrolysis of solid wastes. Both techniques are generally executed at high temperatures and consume long time. Thus, these two methodologies are not considered to be economically feasible. This research work reports a facile and cost effective new route for the generation of CNTs via photocatalytic conversion of water to hydrogen. Specifically, water splitting photochemical reaction using a metal organic framework (Cr MIL 101) and TiO2 nanoparticles was demonstrated. The coupling of the aforementioned semiconductors, as novel matrices, to improve the photocatalytic reactivity toward hydrogen production in the presence of methanol, as a hole scavenger, under visible light was performed. The results revealed the high yield evolution of H2 showing a maximum purity of 99.3% with the in situ formation of carbon nanotubes over the surface of the Cr MIL 101/TiO2 binary system that was obtained by sonication. The use of this binary photocatalyst, however, as a physical mix could produce nano carbon species while simultaneously producing hydrogen rich syngas. The production of H2 gas that was simultaneously stored was noted when Cr MIL 101 was used individually as a photocatalyst. These data provide new advances in the field of water splitting by introducing promising candidate materials for the production of pure hydrogen as a clean fuel.
author_names: Rasha S Mohamed

Amal A Al Kahlawy

Ahmed M A El Naggar

Heba M Gobara
title: Innovative approach for the production of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon nanosheets through highly efficient photocatalytic water splitting into hydrogen using metal organic framework (MOF) nano TiO2 matrices as novel catalysts
year: 2020