On the UV–Visible Light Synergetic Mechanisms in Au/TiO₂ Hybrid Model Nanostructures Achieving Photoreduction of Water

Abstract

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Metal oxides as electrocatalysts for water splitting: On plasmon‐driven enhanced activity

“…However, its application is limited by the high charge recombination rate [ 60 ] , wide bandgap (3.2 eV), and low solar collection efficiency (4‐5% of the total solar spectrum) [ 61 ] . Au/TiO 2 nanomaterials have been applied in HER in several studies with different conformations as nanosheets [ 62 ] , janus [ 63 ] and half‐dome heterostructures [ 64 ] , films [ 65 ] , among others [ 66,67 ] . Table 1 resumes some of the results found in the literature for Au/TiO 2 plasmon‐enhanced HER.…”

Dominant role of OH− and Ti3+ defects on the electronic structure of TiO2 thin films for water splitting

“…(1,2) Uniquely driven by sunlight, the photocatalysis can dispense with the use of an external electric field source, electrode or electrolyte. (3)(4)(5)(6) The most important challenge is to match the transport and lifetime of photo-induced carriers with the chemical processes that drive the water splitting at the photocatalyst surface. Ideally, a semiconductor should absorb over a broad spectral range in order to operate under solar light irradiation.…”

Re-examining the role of subsurface oxygen vacancies in the dissociation of H2O molecules on anatase TiO2

“…Among other metal oxides, TiO 2 's chemical stability, low toxicity, environmentally friendly nature, and reusability, have led to its widely accepted consideration as a top leading photocatalyst [2], particularly since the seminal work by Honda and Fukushima in 1973 [3], which paved the way to photoelectrochemical materials and systems for hydrogen production through the splitting of water molecules. Since then, much effort has been focused on overcoming the TiO 2 weaknesses, such as the high electron/hole recombination rate and its optical absorption limited to the UV region, in both theoretical (mostly density functional theory, DFT) and experimental communities [4][5][6]. While several experimental research routes including doping [7][8][9], heterojunctions with other semiconductors [10], and embedding of plasmonic nanoparticles [4,11] have been pursued, DFT calculations have concentrated on surface chemistry for a number of applications and associated molecular decomposition of probe molecules such as methanol, ethanol, and water [12][13][14][15][16], which is the focus of the present article.…”

“…Since then, much effort has been focused on overcoming the TiO 2 weaknesses, such as the high electron/hole recombination rate and its optical absorption limited to the UV region, in both theoretical (mostly density functional theory, DFT) and experimental communities [4][5][6]. While several experimental research routes including doping [7][8][9], heterojunctions with other semiconductors [10], and embedding of plasmonic nanoparticles [4,11] have been pursued, DFT calculations have concentrated on surface chemistry for a number of applications and associated molecular decomposition of probe molecules such as methanol, ethanol, and water [12][13][14][15][16], which is the focus of the present article. TiO 2 has three stable polymorphs: rutile, anatase, and brookite.…”