Enhanced CO<sub>2</sub> Photocatalysis by Indium Oxide Hydroxide Supported on TiN@TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanotubes.

Nguyen, Nhat Truong; Xia, Meikun; Duchesne, Paul N; Wang, Lu; Mao, Chengliang; Jelle, Abdinoor A; Yan, Tingjiang; Li, Peicheng et al. · Nano Lett · 2021

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Herein is developed a ternary heterostructured catalyst, based on a periodic array of 1D TiN nanotubes, with a TiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticulate intermediate layer and a In<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3-<i>x</i></sub>(OH)<sub><i>y</i></sub> nanoparticulate shell for improved performance in the photocatalytic reverse water gas shift reaction. It is demonstrated that the ordering of the three components in the heterostructure sensitively determine its activity in CO<sub>2</sub> photocatalysis. Specifically, TiN nanotubes not only provide a photothermal driving force for the photocatalytic reaction, owing to their strong optical absorption properties, but they also serve as a crucial scaffold for minimizing the required quantity of In<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3-<i>x</i></sub>(OH)<sub><i>y</i></sub> nanoparticles, leading to an enhanced CO production rate. Simultaneously, the TiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticle layer supplies photogenerated electrons and holes that are transferred to active sites on In<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3-<i>x</i></sub>(OH)<sub><i>y</i></sub> nanoparticles and participate in the reactions occurring at the catalyst surface.