Unraveling the Lattice Matching Effect in Surface Phase Junctions for Interfacial Charge Separation

Abstract

Exquisite control over the interface structure is highly desired for the successful fabrication of a semiconductor heterojunction, which has been confirmed to effectively promote charge separation and transfer. However, the influences of the interface microstructure in the heterojunction on the charge separation and transfer efficiency are still unclear. Herein, taking the TiO 2 heterophase junction (A/R) between anatase and rutile phases and the TiO 2 homophase junction (R s /R) between large rutile rodlike particles and small rutile nanoparticles (∼20 nm) as a prototypical model, it is found that the lattice match at the interface is a key factor determining the charge separation and transfer efficiency and the photocatalytic activity. As compared with A/R, the atomically smooth interface with a highly matched lattice in R s /R leads to a less-defective and abrupt interface and provides a smooth interfacial charge separation and transfer path, leading to improved charge separation and transfer efficiency and a great enhancement in photocatalytic activity. This study provides a novel insight into optimizing the heterojunction structure by designing a highly matched lattice interface between two components.

Oxygen vacancy-mediated WO3 phase junction to steering photogenerated charge separation for enhanced water splitting

“…To better understand the interface structure of o-WO 3 /m-WO 3 phase junction, the lattice mismatch (m) of o-WO 3 /m-WO 3 is estimated by considering the angular mismatch using Eq. ( 3) [38][39][40][41]:…”

Atomic Layer Deposition of Defective Amorphous TiOx Thin Films with Improved Photoelectrochemical Performance

“…The reckless use of fossil fuels has accelerated global warming because fossil fuel burning emits greenhouse gases, resulting in a series of climate change problems that are forcing researchers to develop novel technologies to harvest energy from renewable sources. One of the promising alternatives to fossil fuels is the generation of hydrogen fuel from solar energy and water via the photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting process. − In the PEC water splitting process, solar energy is converted into chemical energy by splitting water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. − The water splitting reaction requires a stable and low-cost semiconductor electrode that can absorb solar light and facilitate stable water oxidation and reduction reactions on its surface. Therefore, the electrode materials must fulfill all PEC requirements such as light absorption, photogenerated charge separation and transportation, facile water oxidation reactions at the electrode surface, and photostability …”

Continuous Charge Transport in Carbon Nitride Modulated by Interfacial Chemical Bond and Homophase Junction to Boost Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production

“…Recently, we developed the homophase junction strategy originated from the different surface band bending between distinct sizes of semiconductor particles, such as rod‐like particle and nanoparticles rutile TiO 2 to improve the charge separation and transfer due to the built‐in electric fields at the interface [22] . Notably, the atomically smooth interface with highly matched lattice in the homophase junction leads to a less‐defective and abrupt interface and provides the smooth interfacial charge separation and transfer path [23] …”

“…[22] Notably, the atomically smooth interface with highly matched lattice in the homophase junction leads to a less-defective and abrupt interface and provides the smooth interfacial charge separation and transfer path. [23] Motivated by the advantages of interfacial chemical bond and homophase junction strategy, herein, taking 2D carbon nitride nanosheets (denoted as CN) [24][25][26][27][28] as a model light absorber, a brookite TiO 2 homophase junction (B N -B R ), formed by nanoparticle brookite TiO 2 (B N ) and rod brookite TiO 2 (B R ) was used as effective electron transport layer to be anchored on CN (denoted as B N -B R /CN). The brookite TiO 2 , which exhibits a monoclinic C2/m structure comprised of edge and cornersharing TiO 6 octahedra, have layered structures with lower packing density and open channels.…”