Synergistic Plasmonic and Upconversion Effect of the (Yb,Er)NYF-TiO₂/Au Composite for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation

Abstract

This article deals with the synthesis of broad band absorption material which extends absorption response up to the infrared region by using plasmonic metal nanoparticles and upconverting host. The synergistic effect of surface plasmon resonance of the Au nanoparticle and upconversion property of (Yb,Er)NYF significantly enhances broad band absorption and photogenerated charge generation and transfer. Au as a plasmonic nanoparticle on (Yb,Er)NYF-TiO 2 plays multiple role of harvesting solar energy and exhibiting excellent catalytic activity. The synthesized heterostructure (Yb,Er)NYF-TiO 2 /Au tested for donor-assisted photocatalytic hydrogen generation shows a steady and remarkably high hydrogen generation rate of 350 μmol h −1 under solar AM 1.5 which is approximately 3.1 times higher than Au/TiO 2 (Degussa P-25). Moreover, a simple synthesis procedure has been rationally designed (Yb,Er)NYF-TiO 2 /Au which shall provide a pathway for futuristic design of plasmon-enhanced broad band absorption material.

Recent Advances in Plasmonic Photocatalysis Based on TiO2 and Noble Metal Nanoparticles for Energy Conversion, Environmental Remediation, and Organic Synthesis

“…[206] Besides, the Au NPs effectively utilize VIS light by LSPR effect thus promoting the light absorption and enhanced photocatalytic reduction of N 2 . However, the solar simulator used for N 2 fixation consists of both UV and VIS lights, which [179] Cu/TiO 2 1000 W Xe-lamp Methanol 160 µmol g −1 J −1 (2018) [150] Au@TiO 2 300 W Xe lamp Methanol 4.9 mmol g −1 h −1 (2018) [91] Au-SrTiO 3 /TiO 2 Simulated sunlight (λ > 320 nm) Methanol 467.30 µmol g −1 h −1 (2019) [180] Ag NRs@TiO 2 300 W Xe lamp (λ > 400 nm) Methanol 390 µmol g −1 h −1 (2019) [146] Cu-TiO 2 Solar simulator (AM 1.5 filter, λ > 400 nm) NA 162.02 mL h −1 cm −2 (2019) [148] Ag/MoS 2 /TiO 2−x 500 W Xe lamp (λ > 420 nm) Methanol 1.98 mmol g −1 h −1 (2019) [143] Cu-CuO/TiO 2 NT arrays Solar simulator (AM 1.5 filter, 100 mW cm −2 ) NA 118 µL h −1 cm −2 (2019) [149] Au NPs/TiO 2 film 300 W Xe lamp (500-600 nm) Lactic acid 6.39 mmol g −1 h −1 (2019) [117] Ni/TiO 2 300 W Xe lamp Ethanol 592.66 mmol g −1 h −1 (2019) [92] Au/TiO 2 NSs 350 W xenon lamp (365 nm) Glycerol 234.4 µmol h −1 (2019) [181] Au NPs-WO (2020) [182] Au/TiO 2 Xe lamp (9 kW m −2 ) Methanol 1600 µmol h −1 (2020) [83] SiO 2 @TiO 2 /Au@Ag NRs Solar simulator (λ = 350−2400 nm) Formic acid 62.0 mmol g −1 h −1 (2020) [183] NCs, nanocubes; NPs, nanoparticles; NRs, nanorods; NSs, nanosheets; NTs, nanotubes; PCP, porous coordination polymers; Rgo, reduced graphene oxide. Adapted with permission.…”

Visible Light-Promoted Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation by the CeF3:Ho3+-Incorporated TiO2 Nanosystem

“…These values are comparable to the binding energy (BE) of Ti 4+ in TiO 2 . 16,61 The deconvoluted spectrum of the peak of O 1s in Figure 6e shows two peaks, the first at 529.6 eV corresponding to crystal lattice oxygen (Ti−O−Ti).…”

Recent Progress in Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

“…The above strategies can significantly improve light absorption of semiconductor photocatalysts from UV light region to visible light region. However, solar spectrum is constituted by more than 50% near-infrared (NIR) light, 42%-45% visible light and 5% UV light 69,70 . Taking full advantage of NIR light will tremendously improve the conversion efficiency of sunlight.…”

“…Because of their unique optical properties, the UCNPs have been adopted to broaden the light absorption of photocatalysts. NaYF4:Yb 3+ , Tm 3+ is a typical upconversion luminescence material for NIR light to UV light 70 . Upconversion is a multiphoton process in which NIR light is converted to higher energies from the deep UV to the NIR by successive energy transfer processes.…”