A chloroplast structured photocatalyst enabled by microwave synthesis.

Xiao, Shuning; Zhang, Dieqing; Pan, Donglai; Zhu, Wei; Liu, Peijue; Cai, Yong; Li, Guisheng; Li, Hexing · Nat Commun · 2019

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Photosynthesis occurs through the synergistic effects of the non-ncontinuously distributed components in the chloroplast. Inspired by nature, we mimic chloroplast and develop a generic approach to synthesize non-continuously distributed semiconductors threaded by carbon nanotubes. In the synthesis, carbon nanotubes serve as microwave antennas to produce local super-hot dots on the surface, which might induce and accelerate various organic/inorganic semiconductors assembly. With the unique nanoscale designed bionic architecture, a chloroplast structured photocatalyst with 3-dimentional dual electron transfer pathways facilitate enhanced photocatalytic performance. The as-synthesized carbon nanotubes-titanium oxide achieves a record-breaking efficiency of 86% for nitric oxide treatment under ultraviolet light irradiation. As a general strategy, a wide variety of carbon nanotubes threaded chloroplast structured nanomaterials can be synthesized and these nanomaterials could find applications in energy chemistry, environmental science and human health.