Charge carrier mapping for Z-scheme photocatalytic water-splitting sheet via categorization of microscopic time-resolved image sequences

Photocatalytic water splitting system using particulate semiconductor materials is a promising strategy for converting solar energy into hydrogen and oxygen. In particular, visible-light-driven ‘Z-scheme’ printable photocatalyst sheets are cost-effective and scalable. However, little is known about...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature communications 2021-06, Vol.12 (1), p.3716-3716, Article 3716
Main Authors: Ebihara, Makoto, Ikeda, Takeshi, Okunaka, Sayuri, Tokudome, Hiromasa, Domen, Kazunari, Katayama, Kenji
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
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Alternative energy sources
Catalytic activity
Cluster analysis
Clustering
Current carriers
Dynamic structural analysis
Humanities and Social Sciences
Hydrogen-based energy
Image processing
Indium tin oxides
Irradiation
Light irradiation
multidisciplinary
Optimization
Photocatalysis
Photocatalysts
Radiation
Renewable energy
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
Semiconductor materials
Sequences
Sheets
Solar energy
Solar energy conversion
Strontium titanates
Tin
Water splitting
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Summary:Photocatalytic water splitting system using particulate semiconductor materials is a promising strategy for converting solar energy into hydrogen and oxygen. In particular, visible-light-driven ‘Z-scheme’ printable photocatalyst sheets are cost-effective and scalable. However, little is known about the fundamental photophysical processes, which are key to explaining and promoting the photoactivity. Here, we applied the pattern-illumination time-resolved phase microscopy for a photocatalyst sheet composed of Mo-doped BiVO 4 and Rh-doped SrTiO 3 with indium tin oxide as the electron mediator to investigate photo-generated charge carrier dynamics. Using this method, we successfully observed the position- and structure-dependent charge carrier behavior and visualized the active/inactive sites in the sheets under the light irradiation via the time sequence images and the clustering analysis. This combination methodology could provide the material/synthesis optimization methods for the maximum performance of the photocatalyst sheets. The Z-scheme photocatalytic system is promising for producing renewable energy by sunlight, but the optimization of multiple materials is challenging. Here, authors directly map out the photocatalytic activity on a microscopic scale by the clustering analysis for the time-resolved image sequence.
ISSN:2041-1723
2041-1723
DOI:10.1038/s41467-021-24061-4