We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Design Principles for Maximizing Hole Utilization of Semiconductor Quantum Wires toward Efficient Photocatalysis
Summary
This paper presented design principles for maximizing hole (positive charge carrier) utilization in semiconductor quantum wire photocatalysts, addressing the rate-limiting step in solar-driven hydrogen production from water splitting.
Maximizing hole-transfer kinetics-usually a rate-determining step in semiconductor-based artificial photosynthesis-is pivotal for simultaneously enabling high-efficiency solar hydrogen production and hole utilization. However, this remains elusive yet as efforts are largely focused on optimizing the electron-involved half-reactions only by empirically employing sacrificial electron donors (SEDs) to consume the wasted holes. Using high-quality ZnSe quantum wires as models, we show that how hole-transfer processes in different SEDs affect their photocatalytic performances. We found that larger driving forces of SEDs monotonically enhance hole-transfer rates and photocatalytic performances by almost three orders of magnitude, a result conforming well with the Auger-assisted hole-transfer model in quantum-confined systems. Intriguingly, further loading Pt cocatalyts can yield either an Auger-assisted model or a Marcus inverted region for electron transfer, depending on the competing hole-transfer kinetics in SEDs.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Impact of Interfaces, and Nanostructure on the Performance of Conjugated Polymer Photocatalysts for Hydrogen Production from Water
This review examines how interfaces and nanostructure influence the performance of conjugated polymer photocatalysts for hydrogen production via water splitting and CO2 reduction, surveying the field since early reports of carbon nitride and organic semiconductor photocatalysts and analyzing structure-property relationships governing efficiency.
Hybrid Semiconductor Photocatalyst Nanomaterials for Energy and Environmental Applications: Fundamentals, Designing, and Prospects
This review covers the development of hybrid semiconductor nanomaterials that use light energy to drive useful chemical reactions, including breaking down pollutants and producing clean fuels. Researchers found that combining semiconductors with metals or carbon-based materials creates surfaces that absorb light and transfer electrical charge more efficiently. The study suggests these hybrid photocatalysts hold strong promise for addressing both energy and environmental challenges.
Comprehensive Insights into Photoreforming of Waste Plastics for Hydrogen Production
This review examines photocatalytic "photoreforming" — a solar-powered process that breaks down waste plastics while simultaneously generating hydrogen fuel and useful chemical byproducts. Recent advances in catalyst design, including semiconductor materials and metal-organic frameworks, are analyzed alongside factors like light intensity and pH that affect hydrogen output. This dual-purpose approach could help address both the global plastic waste crisis and the need for clean energy simultaneously.
A review of semiconductor photocatalyst characterization techniques
This review systematically covered semiconductor photocatalyst characterization techniques—including UV-vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence, and electron microscopy—providing a framework for understanding structure-performance relationships in photocatalysts for solar energy conversion and environmental pollutant degradation.
Role of the Controlled Periodic Illumination (CPI) for Enhancing the Photonic Efficiency of a Photocatalytic System
Not relevant to microplastics — this is a photochemistry study investigating how periodically pulsed (rather than continuous) light irradiation can improve the efficiency of photocatalytic reactions at semiconductor surfaces for pollutant degradation and hydrogen production.