Novel facet-engineered multi-doped TiO2 mesocrystals with unprecedented visible light photocatalytic hydrogen production

• Published in: Solar energy materials and solar cells Vol. 220; p. 110825
• Main Authors: El-Shazly, Ayat N., Hegazy, Aiat H., El Shenawy, E.T., Hamza, Mahmoud A., Allam, Nageh K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.01.2021; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Anatase; Carrier density; Catalytic activity; Cobalt; Doping; Electron paramagnetic resonance; Electron spin resonance; Fabrication; Facet-engineering; Hydrogen; Hydrogen production; Mesocrystals; Photocatalysis; Photochemicals; Photoluminescence; Photons; Single crystals; Titanium; Titanium dioxide; Water splitting; X ray photoelectron spectroscopy; Facet-engineering; Mesocrystals; Photocatalysis; Hydrogen production; Doping
• ISSN: 0927-0248; 1879-3398
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2020.110825

We report on the facile synthesis of anatase multi-doped TiO2 mesocrystals with highly energetic {001} facets and their outstanding photocatalytic activity. The structural and compositional properties were investigated via different techniques such as XRD, XPS, Raman photoluminescence, and electron paramagnetic resonance, which confirmed the fabrication of C, Co, and Ti3+-doped anatase single crystal-like mesocrystals. The Mott-Schottky analysis showed a drastic increase in the carrier density upon cobalt doping, resulting in a 6-fold increase in the photoelectrochemical performance compared to the undoped sample. Besides, the photocatalytic efficiency of the as-fabricated mesocrystals in the photochemical production of hydrogen was estimated under AM1.5 conditions without using any hole scavengers. The Co-doped C/Ti3+ TiO2 mesocrystals showed an unprecedented hydrogen production rate when compared to the other similar titanium-based mesocrystals. Finally, the unprecedented enhancement of Co-doped C/Ti3+ TiO2 mesocrystals in water splitting makes them promising candidates for various photocatalytic applications. [Display omitted] •Anatase multidoped TiO2 mesocrystals with highly energetic {001} facets were synthesized.•The Multidoped mesocrystals are optically active under visible light irradiation.•Mott-Schottky analysis showed a drastic increase in the carrier density upon Co doping.•Co-doping resulted in a 6-fold increase in the photoelectrochemical performance.•Co-doped C/Ti3+-TiO2 mesocrystals showed H2 generation rate of 1653 μmol/h/g.