We demonstrate plasmonic enhancement of photocatalytic water splitting under visible illumination by integrating strongly plasmonic Au nanoparticles with strongly catalytic TiO2. Under visible illumination, we observe enhancements of up to 66× in the photocatalytic splitting of water in TiO2 with the addition of Au nanoparticles. Above the plasmon resonance, under ultraviolet radiation we observe a 4-fold reduction in the photocatalytic activity. Electromagnetic simulations indicate that the improvement of photocatalytic activity in the visible range is caused by the local electric field enhancement near the TiO2 surface, rather than by the direct transfer of charge between the two materials. Here, the near-field optical enhancement increases the electron-hole pair generation rate at the surface of the TiO2, thus increasing the amount of photogenerated charge contributing to catalysis. This mechanism of enhancement is particularly effective because of the relatively short exciton diffusion length (or minority carrier diffusion length), which otherwise limits the photocatalytic performance. Our results suggest that enhancement factors many times larger than this are possible if this mechanism can be optimized.

Plasmon Resonant Enhancement of Photocatalytic Water Splitting Under Visible Illumination

Hierarchically ordered macro−mesoporous titania films have been produced through a confinement self-assembly method within the regular voids of a colloidal crystal with three-dimensional periodicity. Furthermore, graphene as an excellent electron-accepting and electron-transporting material has been incorporated into the hierarchically ordered macro−mesoporous titania frameworks by in situ reduction of graphene oxide added in the self-assembly system. Incorporation of interconnected macropores in mesoporous films improves the mass transport through the film, reduces the length of the mesopore channel, and increases the accessible surface area of the thin film, whereas the introduction of graphene effectively suppresses the charge recombination. Therefore, the significant enhancement of photocatalytic activity for degrading the methyl blue has been achieved. The apparent rate constants for macro−mesoporous titania films without and with graphene are up to 0.045 and 0.071 min−1, respectively, almost 11 and ...

Hierarchically Ordered Macro−Mesoporous TiO2−Graphene Composite Films: Improved Mass Transfer, Reduced Charge Recombination, and Their Enhanced Photocatalytic Activities

Bio-inspired superoleophobic and smart materials: Design, fabrication, and application

Their Applications Kesong Liu,†,∥ Moyuan Cao,† Akira Fujishima, and Lei Jiang*,†,‡ †Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Environment, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, PR China ‡Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Key Laboratory of Organic Solids, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China Research Institute for Science and Technology, Photocatalysis International Research Center, Tokyo University of Science, 1-3 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8601, Japan Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials, University of Wollongong, Innovation Campus, Squires Way, North Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia

Bio-Inspired Titanium Dioxide Materials with Special Wettability and Their Applications

Self-cleaning surfaces have drawn a lot of interest for both fundamental research and practical applications. This review focuses on the recent progress in mechanism, preparation, and application of self-cleaning surfaces. To date, self-cleaning has been demonstrated by the following four conceptual approaches: (a) TiO2-based superhydrophilic self-cleaning, (b) lotus effect self-cleaning (superhydrophobicity with a small sliding angle), (c) gecko setae–inspired self-cleaning, and (d) underwater organisms–inspired antifouling self-cleaning. Although a number of self-cleaning products have been commercialized, the remaining challenges and future outlook of self-cleaning surfaces are also briefly addressed. Through evolution, nature, which has long been a source of inspiration for scientists and engineers, has arrived at what is optimal. We hope this review will stimulate interdisciplinary collaboration among material science, chemistry, biology, physics, nanoscience, engineering, etc., which is essential fo...

Bio-Inspired Self-Cleaning Surfaces

A novel and facile synthesis route to large-pore mesoporous nanocrystalline anatase thin films with tunable pore diameters in narrow distribution of sizes ranging from 8.3 to 14 nm is reported, using triblock copolymer as the template and Ti(OBun)4 as the inorganic precursor. The obtained materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and nitrogen adsorption. A reasonable formation mechanism is also presented in this work.

Liqiang Jing

Papers

Preparation of large-pore mesoporous nanocrystalline TiO2 thin films with tailored pore diameters.