Striving Toward Visible Light Photocatalytic Water Splitting Based on Natural Silicate Clay Mineral: The Interface Modification of Attapulgite at the Atomic-Molecular Level

Abstract

Development of visible light driven photocatalytic water splitting catalysts for hydrogen production with both high activity and stability has remained a challenge to renewable energy research in the past decades. Herein, for the first time, the interface modified attapulgite (ATP) at the atomic-molecular level was employed as a photocatalyst for hydrogen production from water under visible light illumination. Because of the enhancement of the surface hydroxyl, the increase of dye adsorption, and high efficiency of photoexcited electron injection ability, the maximal hydrogen generation rate over the modified ATP coupled with Eosin Y is 2.9 times higher than that of original ATP, and the highest apparent quantum efficiency reached 28.6% at 490 nm. This work will pave a new pathway for the modification of natural catalysts for visible light driven photocatalytic water splitting technology.

Efficient Nanoclay-Based Composite Photocatalyst: The Role of Nanoclay in Photogenerated Charge Separation

“…Probably because of this reason, the enhanced photocatalytic abilities of clay-based photocatalysts are generally attributed to high adsorption properties and excellent surface properties for improving the dispersity and specific surface area of semiconductors . Some works reported that the clay can be used as charge transfers, but these clays usually need to introduce an additional photosensitizer. , Interestingly, the iron-rich clay itself such as kaolinite and montmorillonite revealed some photocatalytic activities because of existence of photoactive iron oxides which are mainly structural iron in the aluminosilicate lattice, resulting from isomorphous substitution. − These clays improved the photogenerated carrier transfer efficiency of the supported photocatalyst because of its semiconducting property . Although a few works have reported a semiconductor–clay based photocatalyst, − the essential roles of the iron-rich clay on the separation of photogenerated carriers remain unclear.…”

rGO/CNTs Supported Pyrolysis Derivatives of [Mo3S13]2– Clusters as Promising Electrocatalysts for Enhancing Hydrogen Evolution Performances

“…Achieving the goals of high H 2 production rate and low electricity costs, the most critical research needs are to develop novel and cost-effective electrocatalysts to replace platinum (Pt) catalysts. − Therefore, it is highly attractive to explore cost-effective electrocatalysts deriving from earth-abundant metal compounds. Recently, the two-dimensional transition metal chalcogenides, for example, MoS 2 , MoSe 2 , CoS 2 , WS 2 , and WSe 2 , have been extensively investigated. ,− Among them, MoS 2 nanoparticles showing excellent electrocatalytic HER performance have received great interest in recent studies. − High electrocatalytic activity of amorphous molybdenum sulfide has been reported in a series of recent studies. ,− The high activity of amorphous MoS 2 is attributed by the coordinatively unsaturated sulfur atoms. , Furthermore, the amorphous MoS 2 is comprised of unsaturated and/or terminal S 2 2– ligands as well as apical and/or bridging S 2 2– ligands sites, which is analogous to the thiomolybdate [Mo 3 S 13 ] 2– clusters. ,, …”

Room‐Temperature Synthesis and Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance of BiOCl Microsphere

“…Now we have to face the increasingly serious water pollution problems with the rapid development of global industrialization . Especially, dyeing wastewater generated from the textile industry is one of the industrial pollutant headstreams.…”