Core-Shell Nanostructured “Black” Rutile Titania as Excellent Catalyst for Hydrogen Production Enhanced by Sulfur Doping

• Published in: Journal of the American Chemical Society 2013-11, Vol.135 (47), p.17831-17838
• Main Authors: Yang, Chongyin, Wang, Zhou, Lin, Tianquan, Yin, Hao, Lü, Xujie, Wan, Dongyun, Xu, Tao, Zheng, Chong, Lin, Jianhua, Huang, Fuqiang, Xie, Xiaoming, Jiang, Mianheng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0002-7863; 1520-5126
• DOI: 10.1021/ja4076748

Modification of rutile titanium dioxide (TiO2) for hydrogen generation and water cleaning is a grand challenge due to the chemical inertness of rutile, while such inertness is a desired merit for its stability in photoelectrochemical applications. Herein, we report an innovative two-step method to prepare a core–shell nanostructured S-doped rutile TiO2 (R′-TiO2-S). This modified black rutile TiO2 sample exhibits remarkably enhanced absorption in visible and near-infrared regions and efficient charge separation and transport. As a result, the unique sulfide surface (TiO2–x :S) boosts the photocatalytic water cleaning and water splitting with a steady solar hydrogen production rate of 0.258 mmol h–1 g–1. The black titania is also an excellent photoelectrochemical electrode exhibiting a high solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency of 1.67%. The sulfided surface shell is proved to be an effective strategy for enhancing solar light absorption and photoelectric conversion.