Structurally controlled ZnO/TiO2 heterostructures as efficient photocatalysts for hydrogen generation from water without noble metals: The role of microporous amorphous/crystalline composite structure

Siyao Guo, Song Han, Haifeng Mao, Shimiao Dong, Congcong Wu, Lichao Jia, Bo Chi, Jian Pu, Jian Li

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

80 Scopus citations

Abstract

A versatile synthetic method, which is based on a low-temperature hydrothermal technique, is developed for the fabrication of a microporous ZnO/TiO2 composite catalyst with different structures (e.g., amorphous, amorphous/crystalline and crystalline). In particular, a novel microporous ZnO/TiO2 composite with amorphous/crystalline structure is obtained with a 3/1 M ratio of Ti/Zn. This novel ZnO/TiO2 composite heterostructure not only has a large specific surface area (311.9 m2 g-1) but also exhibits outstanding performance during solar water splitting reactions to generate hydrogen without a noble metal co-catalyst. Based on our in-depth mechanistic analysis, the synergistic effect between the amorphous ZnO and crystalline TiO2 is responsible for the enhanced performance of this material.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)979-985
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Power Sources
Volume245
DOIs
StatePublished - 2014

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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