Loading…

Facet engineering of WO3 arrays toward highly efficient and stable photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation from natural seawater

Facet-controlled Ag/WO3/ZnFe-LDH nano-square arrays were fabricated as highly efficient and stable photoanode for photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation from natural seawater with the synergistic effect of rational dual-cocatalysts. [Display omitted] •Facet-controlled WO3 array decorated with reas...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied catalysis. B, Environmental Environmental, 2020-05, Vol.264, p.118540, Article 118540
Main Authors: Liu, Jingchao, Xu, Si-Min, Li, Yanfei, Zhang, Ruikang, Shao, Mingfei
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Facet-controlled Ag/WO3/ZnFe-LDH nano-square arrays were fabricated as highly efficient and stable photoanode for photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation from natural seawater with the synergistic effect of rational dual-cocatalysts. [Display omitted] •Facet-controlled WO3 array decorated with reasonable distribution of dual-cocatalysts has been successfully synthesized.•The obtained Ag/WO3/ZnFe-LDH photoanode exhibits highly efficient and stable PEC H2 generation from natural seawater.•Experimental studies and DFT calculation reveal the nature of charge separation between the divergent facets of WO3.•This work demonstrates facet engineering as an effective strategy to modify the semiconductor photoanode. Hydrogen generation via photoelectrochemical (PEC) technology is one of the most ideal strategies for providing sustainable fuel, in particular, from abundant natural resource (such as seawater). Herein, we demonstrate facet-controlled WO3 array decorated with reasonable distribution of dual-cocatalysts, which shows highly efficient and stable PEC H2 generation from natural seawater. The experimental and theoretical results illustrate that photo-generated electrons and holes accumulate directionally on different crystal facets of WO3 to achieve effective spatial separation, owing to the divergent energy levels of each crystal facet. Moreover, the charge utilization is further enhanced by selective modification of Ag nanoparticles and ZnFe-layered double hydroxide on different crystal facets reasonably, getting an average PEC H2 production of 38.18 μmol h−1 from natural seawater with excellent stability. This work opens up a new facet engineering pathway for the fabrication of novel photoelectrodes, which have potential applications in the fields of solar energy conversion and storage.
ISSN:0926-3373
1873-3883
DOI:10.1016/j.apcatb.2019.118540