Cd-ZnGeON solid solution: the effect of local electronic environment on the photocatalytic water cleavage ability

The efficiency of hydrogen generation through photocatalytic water cleavage was elucidated for calcinated Cd-ZnGeON host systems. The electronic structures of the Cd-ZnGeON solid solution were explored via synchronized X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the K-edge for elements O, N,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of materials chemistry. A, Materials for energy and sustainability Materials for energy and sustainability, 2013-01, Vol.1 (25), p.7422-7432
Main Authors: Chouhan, Neelu, Liu, Ru-Shi, Hu, Shu-Fen
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cadmium
Calcines
Cleavage
Electronics
Photocatalysis
Solid solutions
Water splitting
X-rays
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Summary:The efficiency of hydrogen generation through photocatalytic water cleavage was elucidated for calcinated Cd-ZnGeON host systems. The electronic structures of the Cd-ZnGeON solid solution were explored via synchronized X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the K-edge for elements O, N, Zn and Ge, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, diffuse reflection spectroscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, etc., which were used as sensitive analytical probes. A good correlation was observed between the ability of Cd-ZnGeON for photocatalytic water splitting and the local atomic arrangement in its lattice. Based on advanced structural information about the solid solution, a concise lattice-model was proposed for hydrogen generation through water splitting. The electron-transfer route for hydrogen generation viaphotocatalytic water cleavage was also traced. The results reveal that the wurtzite Cd-ZnGeON calcinated at 600 degree C generates a large amount of hydrogen (3647.25 mu mol H sub(2) h super(-1) g super(-1)).
ISSN:2050-7488
2050-7496
DOI:10.1039/c3ta11192j