Vacancy-Induced Symmetry Breaking in Titanium Dioxide Boosts the Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production from Methanol Aqueous Solution.
basic_science · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 39353098.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c03696.
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Abstract
The key to optimizing photocatalysts lies in the efficient separation and oriented migration of the photogenerated carriers. Herein, we report that breaking continuous TiO<sub>6</sub> tetragonal (<i>D</i><sub>4<i>h</i></sub>) symmetry in titanium dioxide material by oxygen vacancy engineering could induce a dipole field within the bulk phase and thus facilitate the separation and transfer of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. After further loading of Cu single-atom co-catalysts, the obtained catalyst attained a hydrogen (H<sub>2</sub>) yield rate of 15.84 mmol g<sup>-1</sup> h<sup>-1</sup> and a remarkable apparent quantum yield of 12.67% at 385 nm from methanol aqueous solution. This catalyst also demonstrated impressive stability for at least 24 h during the photocatalytic tests. The innovative concept of producing dipole fields in semiconductors by breaking the crystal symmetry offers a new perspective for designing photocatalysts.