Charge carrier mapping for Z-scheme photocatalytic water-splitting sheet via categorization of microscopic time-resolved image sequences.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 34140521.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-021-24061-4 and PMC identifier 8211828.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
Photocatalytic water splitting system using particulate semiconductor materials is a promising strategy for converting solar energy into hydrogen and oxygen. In particular, visible-light-driven 'Z-scheme' printable photocatalyst sheets are cost-effective and scalable. However, little is known about the fundamental photophysical processes, which are key to explaining and promoting the photoactivity. Here, we applied the pattern-illumination time-resolved phase microscopy for a photocatalyst sheet composed of Mo-doped BiVO<sub>4</sub> and Rh-doped SrTiO<sub>3</sub> with indium tin oxide as the electron mediator to investigate photo-generated charge carrier dynamics. Using this method, we successfully observed the position- and structure-dependent charge carrier behavior and visualized the active/inactive sites in the sheets under the light irradiation via the time sequence images and the clustering analysis. This combination methodology could provide the material/synthesis optimization methods for the maximum performance of the photocatalyst sheets.