Semiconductor-based nanocomposites for photocatalytic H2 production and CO2 conversion
Semiconductor-based photocatalysis has attracted much attention in recent years because of its potential for solving energy and environmental problems that we are now facing. Among many photocatalytic reactions, the splitting of H 2 O into H 2 and O 2 and the reduction of CO 2 with H 2 O into organi...
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| Published in | Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP Vol. 15; no. 8; pp. 2632 - 2649 |
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| Main Authors | , , |
| Format | Journal Article |
| Language | English |
| Published |
Cambridge
Royal Society of Chemistry
28.02.2013
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| Subjects | |
| Online Access | Get full text |
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| Summary: | Semiconductor-based photocatalysis has attracted much attention in recent years because of its potential for solving energy and environmental problems that we are now facing. Among many photocatalytic reactions, the splitting of H
2
O into H
2
and O
2
and the reduction of CO
2
with H
2
O into organic compounds such as CH
4
and CH
3
OH are two of the most important and challenging reactions. Many studies have been devoted to designing and preparing novel photocatalytic materials for these two reactions. This article highlights recent advances in developing semiconductor-based nanocomposite photocatalysts for the production of H
2
and the reduction of CO
2
. The systems of semiconductor-cocatalyst, semiconductor-carbon (carbon nanotube or graphene) and semiconductor-semiconductor nanocomposites have mainly been described. It has been demonstrated that the design and preparation of nanocomposites with proper structures can facilitate charge separation/migration and decrease the charge recombination probability, thus promoting the photocatalytic activity. Keeping the reduction and oxidation processes in different regions in the nanocomposite may also enhance the photocatalytic efficiency and stability. The location and size of cocatalysts, the interfacial contact between semiconductor and carbon materials, and the heterojunctions between different semiconductors together with the suitable alignment of band edges of semiconductors are key factors determining the photocatalytic behaviours of the nanocomposite catalysts.
This article highlights recent advances in the utilization of nanocomposites as promising photocatalysts for H
2
production and CO
2
reduction. |
|---|---|
| Bibliography: | Ye Wang received his BS and MSc degrees from Nanjing University of China, and obtained his PhD degree in 1996 from Tokyo Institute of Technology of Japan. He worked as research associate at Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tohoku University and Hiroshima University during 1996-2000 and was promoted to associate professor at Hiroshima University in 2001. He became a full professor of Xiamen University in the August of 2001. He is currently the director of Institute of Catalysis Science and Technology of Xiamen University. His main research interests include heterogeneous catalysis for energy-related processes and selective oxidation catalysis. 2 evolution and chemical synthesis. Wenqing Fan received his BS degree in chemistry from Xiamen University of China in 2008, and is now working for his PhD degree at Xiamen University under the guidance of Professor Ye Wang. He focuses on the development of novel photocatalytic systems for H Qinghong Zhang received her BS and MSc degrees from Nanjing University of China in 1989 and 1992, and obtained her PhD degree from Hiroshima University of Japan in 2002. She joined Xiamen University in October of 2002, and was promoted to a full professor in 2010. Her research interests include the synthesis and characterizations of novel composite materials with advanced catalytic properties. ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
| ISSN: | 1463-9076 1463-9084 1463-9084 |
| DOI: | 10.1039/c2cp43524a |