Self‐templated Constructing of Heterophase Junction into Hierarchical Porous Structure of Semiconductors for Promoting Photogenerated Charge Separation

Abstract

It is well‐known that photogenerated charge separation is the key and bottleneck step to determine the solar energy efficiency in photocatalysis. Although strategies for facilitating spatial charge separation of semiconductor‐based photocatalysts like heterojunctions, especially for heterophase junctions have been recognized as useful and adequate approaches, the original morphology‐tailored structures are always challenging to be maintained during the thermal‐induced phase transformation process. Herein, using a facile self‐templated method, we successfully fabricate heterophase junction into the well‐defined hierarchical porous structure of visible‐light‐responsive semiconductor, bismuth oxide (Bi2O3), without destroying the its unique hierarchical porous morphology. Such organic integration of heterophase junction and hierarchical porous structure are demonstrated to enable highly efficient separation of photogenerated electrons and holes, resulting in a remarkable enhancement in photocatalytic activities. Our work showcases a general concept for developing artificial photocatalyst systems via integrating efficient charge separation path into the unique morphology‐tailoring of semiconductors for highly efficient solar energy conversion.

Bimetallic CoCu-ZIF material for efficient visible light photocatalytic fuel denitrification

“…19 Considering the high specic surface area and excellent photogenerated carrier transport properties, porous nanostructures are deemed to be the key structures of photocatalytic materials. 20 Metal-organic framework materials (MOFs) have the characteristics of high specic surface area, regular pore structure, good chemical stability and convenient synthesis, 21,22 so they are widely used in adsorption and separation, 23 gas storage, catalytic reaction (including chemical catalysis, 24,25 electrocatalysis 26,27 and photocatalysis, 28 sensors, 29 electronic or optical devices 29 and so on). Meanwhile, the high specic surface area of MOFs can also improve the adsorption of target pollutants and increase the number of active sites, 30,31 which has obvious application potential to improve the photocatalytic performance of semiconductors.…”

“…19 Considering the high specific surface area and excellent photogenerated carrier transport properties, porous nanostructures are deemed to be the key structures of photocatalytic materials. 20…”

Tuning the heterophase junction in Bi2O3 hybrid crystals with enhanced photocatalytic activity

“…17 Porous flower-shaped hierarchical β/α-Bi 2 O 3 presents high photoactive performance compared to the single constituents. 18 The α/β-Bi 2 O 3 hetero-phase junction could not only remove dyes from water efficiently but also has particular potential to degrade colorless pollutants such as TC-HCl. 19 The examples above show that a composite system constructed with semiconductor isomers is promising for designing photocatalysts with high efficiency.…”