Facile, sustainable and unassisted plain water oxidation on Au/Ce0.9Ti0.1O2 nanorods in direct sunlight

TitleFacile, sustainable and unassisted plain water oxidation on Au/Ce0.9Ti0.1O2 nanorods in direct sunlight
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2022
AuthorsDubey, A, Mishra, AKumar, Negi, SSingh, Gopinath, CS
JournalJournal of Chemical Sciences
Volume134
Issue2
Pagination61
Date PublishedJUN
Type of ArticleArticle
ISSN0974-3626
Keywordsceria, Electronic integration, Photocatalysis, thin film, water splitting
Abstract

Impressive rate of solar water oxidation to molecular oxygen (O-2) has been demonstrated on nanorods (NRs) of Ce0.9Ti0.1O2 (CT-NR) and Au-deposited CT-NR (Au-CT-NR) photocatalysts with a sacrificial agent (Fe3+) and in plain water in one sun condition, direct sunlight and with lambda >= 455 nm. Probably the highest 0 2 yield of 11 mmol/h.g was observed with Au-CT-NR thin film in plain water in direct sunlight, with no sacrificial agent or applied potential. Photoelectrochemical measurements demonstrate a marked reduction in oxidation onset potential of Au-CT-NR by 150 mV with stable photocurrent (0.75 mA/cm(2)), compared to CT-NR (0.23 mA/cm(2)), indicating the operative of plasmon-induced resonant energy transfer (PIRET) process. Effective electron quenching by nanogold and hence low recombination in the depletion region is a critical step for the observation of a high rate of oxygen evolution. In addition to this, a predominant change in the nature of the valence band from O-2p dominated on CeO2 to Ce-4f dominated with CT-NR (due to Ti4+ introduction in CeO2), the efficient light absorption of photocatalysts in thin-film form, functional and effective PIRET process, and facile E-F alignment, enhances the oxygen evolution with Au-CT-NR in direct sunlight and make it highly sustainable. A possible mechanism of water oxidation is proposed from the observed experimental findings.

DOI10.1007/s12039-022-02055-z
Type of Journal (Indian or Foreign)

Indian

Impact Factor (IF)

2.150

Divison category: 
Catalysis and Inorganic Chemistry
Database: 
Web of Science (WoS)

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