Xinjian Feng

Bio: Xinjian Feng is an academic researcher from Chinese Academy of Sciences. The author has contributed to research in topics: Nanowire & Materials science. The author has an hindex of 26, co-authored 38 publications receiving 8872 citations. Previous affiliations of Xinjian Feng include Soochow University (Suzhou) & Northern Illinois University.

Oriented Assembled TiO2 Hierarchical Nanowire Arrays with Fast Electron Transport Properties

Abstract: Developing high surface area nanostructured electrodes with rapid charge transport is essential for artificial photosynthesis, solar cells, photocatalysis, and energy storage devices. Substantial research efforts have been recently focused on building one-dimensional (1D) nanoblocks with fast charge transport into three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical architectures. However, except for the enlargement in surface area, there is little experimental evidence of fast electron transport in these 3D nanostructure-based solar cells. In this communication, we report single-crystal-like 3D TiO2 branched nanowire arrays consisting of 1D branch epitaxially grown from the primary trunk. These 3D branched nanoarrays not only demonstrate 71% enlargement in large surface area (compared with 1D nanowire arrays) but also exhibit fast charge transport property (comparable to that in 1D single crystal nanoarrays), leading to 52% improvement in solar conversion efficiency. The orientated 3D assembly strategy reported here can ...

Oxygen-Rich Enzyme Biosensor Based on Superhydrophobic Electrode.

Abstract: The fabrication of novel superhydrophobic electrodes is described, which have an air-liquid-solid three-phase interface, where oxygen is sufficient and constant. Oxygen is an effective natural electron acceptor for oxidase, and plays a key role in the development of reliable bioassays. Such an electrode allows detection of glucose concentration, linearly from 50 × 10(-9) m to 156 × 10(-3) m with good sensitivity and accuracy without analyte dilution. This strategy offers a unique route to address the gas-deficit problem of many reaction systems.

Control over the Wettability of Colloidal Crystal Films by Assembly Temperature

Abstract: Summary: A facile method to fabricate colloidal crystalfilms with tunable wettability from an amphiphilic materialpolystyrene-block-poly(methyl methacrylate)-block-poly-(acrylic acid) is presented. The wettability of the film canbe tuned from superhydrophilic (CA, 08) to superhydropho-bic(CA,150.28)byvaryingtheassemblytemperature,whilethe position of the photonic bandgap of the colloidal crystalfilms remains virtually unchanged. The method could opennew application fields of colloidal crystals in diverseenvironments.The relationship of assembly temperature with water CA(inset is the water droplet profile of the relative water CA). Macromol. Rapid Commun. 2006, 27, 188–192 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim 188 DOI:10.1002/marc.200500719 Communication a : Supporting information (SEM images of the preparedcolloidal crystal films assembled at various temperatures) forthis article is available at the bottom of the article’s abstractpage, which can be accessed from the journal’s homepage athttp://www.mrc-journal.de, or from the author.

Solar Water Splitting Cells

Abstract: Energy harvested directly from sunlight offers a desirable approach toward fulfilling, with minimal environmental impact, the need for clean energy. Solar energy is a decentralized and inexhaustible natural resource, with the magnitude of the available solar power striking the earth’s surface at any one instant equal to 130 million 500 MW power plants.1 However, several important goals need to be met to fully utilize solar energy for the global energy demand. First, the means for solar energy conversion, storage, and distribution should be environmentally benign, i.e. protecting ecosystems instead of steadily weakening them. The next important goal is to provide a stable, constant energy flux. Due to the daily and seasonal variability in renewable energy sources such as sunlight, energy harvested from the sun needs to be efficiently converted into chemical fuel that can be stored, transported, and used upon demand. The biggest challenge is whether or not these goals can be met in a costeffective way on the terawatt scale.2

TiO2 photocatalysis: Design and applications

Abstract: TiO 2 photocatalysis is widely used in a variety of applications and products in the environmental and energy fields, including self-cleaning surfaces, air and water purification systems, sterilization, hydrogen evolution, and photoelectrochemical conversion. The development of new materials, however, is strongly required to provide enhanced performances with respect to the photocatalytic properties and to find new uses for TiO 2 photocatalysis. In this review, recent developments in the area of TiO 2 photocatalysis research, in terms of new materials from a structural design perspective, have been summarized. The dimensionality associated with the structure of a TiO 2 material can affect its properties and functions, including its photocatalytic performance, and also more specifically its surface area, adsorption, reflectance, adhesion, and carrier transportation properties. We provide a brief introduction to the current situation in TiO 2 photocatalysis, and describe structurally controlled TiO 2 photocatalysts which can be classified into zero-, one-, two-, and three-dimensional structures. Furthermore, novel applications of TiO 2 surfaces for the fabrication of wettability patterns and for printing are discussed.

Hydrogen-Treated TiO2 Nanowire Arrays for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting

Abstract: We report the first demonstration of hydrogen treatment as a simple and effective strategy to fundamentally improve the performance of TiO2 nanowires for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. Hydrogen-treated rutile TiO2 (H:TiO2) nanowires were prepared by annealing the pristine TiO2 nanowires in hydrogen atmosphere at various temperatures in a range of 200–550 °C. In comparison to pristine TiO2 nanowires, H:TiO2 samples show substantially enhanced photocurrent in the entire potential window. More importantly, H:TiO2 samples have exceptionally low photocurrent saturation potentials of −0.6 V vs Ag/AgCl (0.4 V vs RHE), indicating very efficient charge separation and transportation. The optimized H:TiO2 nanowire sample yields a photocurrent density of ∼1.97 mA/cm2 at −0.6 V vs Ag/AgCl, in 1 M NaOH solution under the illumination of simulated solar light (100 mW/cm2 from 150 W xenon lamp coupled with an AM 1.5G filter). This photocurrent density corresponds to a solar-to-hydrogen (STH) efficiency of ∼1...

Photocatalytic reduction of CO2 on TiO2 and other semiconductors.

Abstract: Rising atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide and the depletion of fossil fuel reserves raise serious concerns about the ensuing effects on the global climate and future energy supply. Utilizing the abundant solar energy to convert CO2 into fuels such as methane or methanol could address both problems simultaneously as well as provide a convenient means of energy storage. In this Review, current approaches for the heterogeneous photocatalytic reduction of CO2 on TiO2 and other metal oxide, oxynitride, sulfide, and phosphide semiconductors are presented. Research in this field is focused primarily on the development of novel nanostructured photocatalytic materials and on the investigation of the mechanism of the process, from light absorption through charge separation and transport to CO2 reduction pathways. The measures used to quantify the efficiency of the process are also discussed in detail.