Efficient Photocatalytic Core–Shell Synthesis of Titanate Nanowire/rGO

Wide bandgap semiconductor-based photocatalysts are usually limited by their low solar energy conversion efficiency due to their limited absorption solar wavelength, their rapid surface recombination of the photogenerated electron–hole pairs, and their low charge-carrier mobility. Here, we report a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inCatalysts Vol. 14; no. 4; p. 218
Main Authors Ye, Xiaofang, Tian, Yang, Gao, Mengyao, Cheng, Fangjun, Lan, Jinshen, Chen, Han, Lanoue, Mark, Huang, Shengli, Tian, Z. Ryan
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Basel MDPI AG 01.04.2024
Subjects
Absorption
Analysis
Carrier mobility
Charge transfer
Chemical synthesis
Composite materials
Core-shell structure
core–shell nanostructure
Current carriers
Efficiency
Electric properties
Energy conversion efficiency
Graphene
Mechanical properties
Methods
Morphology
Nanocomposites
Nanoparticles
Nanowires
Numerical analysis
Oxides
Photocatalysis
Photoelectric effect
Solar energy
Solar energy conversion
Specific surface
Spectrum analysis
Structure
Surface area
Surface chemistry
Synthesis
titanate nanowire
Titanates
wide bandgap
Wide bandgap semiconductors
China
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Summary:Wide bandgap semiconductor-based photocatalysts are usually limited by their low solar energy conversion efficiency due to their limited absorption solar wavelength, their rapid surface recombination of the photogenerated electron–hole pairs, and their low charge-carrier mobility. Here, we report a novel stepwise solution synthesis for achieving a new photocatalytic core–shell consisting of a titanate nanowire/reduced graphene oxide shell (or titanate/rGO) 1D-nanocomposite. The new core–shell nanocomposite maximized the specific surface area, largely reduced the charge transfer resistance and reaction energy barrier, and significantly improved the absorption of visible light. The core–shell nanocomposites’ large on/off current ratio and rapid photo-responses boosted the photocurrent by 30.0%, the photocatalysis rate by 50.0%, and the specific surface area by 16.4% when compared with the results for the pure titanate nanowire core. Our numerical simulations support the effective charge separation on the new core–shell nanostructure, which can help further advance the novel photocatalysis.
ISSN:2073-4344
2073-4344
DOI:10.3390/catal14040218