Author(s): Li, Z (Li, Zheng); Zhang, L (Zhang, Liang); Liu, Y (Liu, Yong); Shao, CY (Shao, Chenyi); Gao, YY (Gao, Yuying); Fan, FT (Fan, Fengtao); Wang, JX (Wang, Junxi); Li, JM (Li, Jinmin); Yan, JC (Yan, Janchang); Li, RG (Li, Rengui); Li, C (Li, Can)

Source: ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION Volume: 59 Issue: 2 Pages: 935-942 DOI: 10.1002/ange.201912844 Published: JAN 7 2020

Abstract: Photocatalytic overall water splitting has been recognized as a promising approach to convert solar energy into hydrogen. However, most of the photocatalysts suffer from low efficiencies mainly because of poor charge separation. Herein, taking a model semiconductor gallium nitride (GaN) as an example, we uncovered that photogenerated electrons and holes can be spatially separated to the nonpolar and polar surfaces of GaN nanorod arrays, which is presumably ascribed to the different surface band bending induced by the surface polarity. The photogenerated charge separation efficiency of GaN can be enhanced significantly from about 8% to more than 80% via co-exposing polar and nonpolar surfaces. Furthermore, spatially assembling reduction and oxidation cocatalysts on the nonpolar and polar surfaces remarkably boosts photocatalytic overall water splitting, with the quantum efficiency increased from 0.9% for the film photocatalyst to 6.9% for the nanorod arrays photocatalyst.

Accession Number: WOS:000505279500062

PubMed ID: 31670455

ISSN: 1433-7851

eISSN: 1521-3773

Full Text: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ange.201912844