Critical role of particle size and interfacial properties in the visible light induced splitting of water over the nanocrystallites of supported cadmium sulphide

TitleCritical role of particle size and interfacial properties in the visible light induced splitting of water over the nanocrystallites of supported cadmium sulphide
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2010
AuthorsDeshpande, A, Gupta, NM
JournalInternational Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Volume35
Issue8
Pagination3287-3296
Date PublishedAPR
ISSN0360-3199
KeywordsCdS nanocrystallites, Interfacial defects, Photocatalysis, Structural sensitivity, water splitting
Abstract

CdS crystallites of varying size (1 to 5.0 nm) were successfully deposited on the surfaces of polyester and activated charcoal. The size and the texture of these crystallites depended on CdS loading and also on the substrate morphology. These highly dispersed photocatalysts displayed a pyramidal trend in activity for visible light induced splitting of water molecules, similar to that reported for the heterogeneous catalytic reactions over supported noble metals. Thus, the CdS particles of similar to 2.5 nm size gave rise to maximum rate of H(2) evolution as compared to the particles of either smaller or of larger size. The particles of <1.5 nm diameter were of poor crystallinity and displayed a significant Q-size effect on the absorption edge. Our study provides direct evidence for the structure sensitivity of photocatalytic dissociation of water over supported semiconductor nanocrystallites, where the particle size and the interfacial microstructural defects played a vital role. (C) 2010 Professor T. Nejat Veziroglu. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

DOI10.1016/j.ijhydene.2010.01.134
Type of Journal (Indian or Foreign)Foreign
Impact Factor (IF)4.053
Divison category: 
Catalysis and Inorganic Chemistry