Roles of graphene oxide in photocatalytic water splitting
TL;DR: Graphene oxide (GO) sheets have highly tunable electronic properties because of their unique 2D carbon structure, which allows extensive modification with surface functionalities. as discussed by the authors introduces strategies for tuning the electronic structure of GO and presents GO alone and with other materials, as a mediator for photocatalytic water splitting.
About: This article is published in Materials Today.The article was published on 2013-03-01 and is currently open access. It has received 330 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Water splitting & Photocatalytic water splitting.
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TL;DR: In this article, a review concisely compiles the recent progress in the fabrication, modification, and major applications of the direct Z-scheme photocatalysts; the latter include water splitting, carbon dioxide reduction, degradation of pollutants, and biohazard disinfection.
1,013 citations
TL;DR: Composite Photocatalysts Nan Zhang,‚‡ Min-Quan Yang,†,‡ Siqi Liu,*,‡ Yugang Sun,* and Yi-Jun Xu*,† are authors of this paper.
Abstract: Composite Photocatalysts Nan Zhang,†,‡ Min-Quan Yang,†,‡ Siqi Liu,†,‡ Yugang Sun,* and Yi-Jun Xu*,†,‡ †State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350002, P.R. China ‡College of Chemistry, New Campus, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, P.R. China Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
997 citations
TL;DR: This Review discusses the advantages and uniqueness that MOFs offer in photocatalysis, and presents the best practices to determine photocatalytic activity in MOFs and for the deposition of co-catalysts.
Abstract: Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are crystalline porous materials formed from bi- or multipodal organic linkers and transition-metal nodes. Some MOFs have high structural stability, combined with large flexibility in design and post-synthetic modification. MOFs can be photoresponsive through light absorption by the organic linker or the metal oxide nodes. Photoexcitation of the light absorbing units in MOFs often generates a ligand-to-metal charge-separation state that can result in photocatalytic activity. In this Review we discuss the advantages and uniqueness that MOFs offer in photocatalysis. We present the best practices to determine photocatalytic activity in MOFs and for the deposition of co-catalysts. In particular we give examples showing the photocatalytic activity of MOFs in H2 evolution, CO2 reduction, photooxygenation, and photoreduction.
810 citations
TL;DR: Through reviewing the significant advances on this topic, it may provide new opportunities for designing highly efficient 2D graphene-based photocatalysts for various applications in photocatalysis and other fields, such as solar cells, thermal catalysis, separation, and purification.
Abstract: In recent years, heterogeneous photocatalysis has received much research interest because of its powerful potential applications in tackling many important energy and environmental challenges at a global level in an economically sustainable manner. Due to their unique optical, electrical, and physicochemical properties, various 2D graphene nanosheets-supported semiconductor composite photocatalysts have been widely constructed and applied in different photocatalytic fields. In this review, fundamental mechanisms of heterogeneous photocatalysis, including thermodynamic and kinetics requirements, are first systematically summarized. Then, the photocatalysis-related properties of graphene and its derivatives, and design rules and synthesis methods of graphene-based composites are highlighted. Importantly, different design strategies, including doping and sensitization of semiconductors by graphene, improving electrical conductivity of graphene, increasing eloectrocatalytic active sites on graphene, strengthening interface coupling between semiconductors and graphene, fabricating micro/nano architectures, constructing multi-junction nanocomposites, enhancing photostability of semiconductors, and utilizing the synergistic effect of various modification strategies, are thoroughly summarized. The important applications including photocatalytic pollutant degradation, H2 production, and CO2 reduction are also addressed. Through reviewing the significant advances on this topic, it may provide new opportunities for designing highly efficient 2D graphene-based photocatalysts for various applications in photocatalysis and other fields, such as solar cells, thermal catalysis, separation, and purification.
766 citations
TL;DR: Nitrogen-doped graphene oxide quantum dots exhibit both p- and n-type conductivities and catalyze overall water-splitting under visible-light irradiation, and the reaction mimics biological photosynthesis.
Abstract: Nitrogen-doped graphene oxide quantum dots exhibit both p- and n-type conductivities and catalyze overall water-splitting under visible-light irradiation. The quantum dots contain p-n type photochemical diodes, in which the carbon sp(2) clusters serve as the interfacial junction. The active sites for H2 and O2 evolution are the p- and n-domains, respectively, and the reaction mimics biological photosynthesis.
705 citations
References
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26,456 citations
TL;DR: This critical review shows the basis of photocatalytic water splitting and experimental points, and surveys heterogeneous photocatalyst materials for water splitting into H2 and O2, and H2 or O2 evolution from an aqueous solution containing a sacrificial reagent.
Abstract: This critical review shows the basis of photocatalytic water splitting and experimental points, and surveys heterogeneous photocatalyst materials for water splitting into H2 and O2, and H2 or O2 evolution from an aqueous solution containing a sacrificial reagent Many oxides consisting of metal cations with d0 and d10 configurations, metal (oxy)sulfide and metal (oxy)nitride photocatalysts have been reported, especially during the latest decade The fruitful photocatalyst library gives important information on factors affecting photocatalytic performances and design of new materials Photocatalytic water splitting and H2 evolution using abundant compounds as electron donors are expected to contribute to construction of a clean and simple system for solar hydrogen production, and a solution of global energy and environmental issues in the future (361 references)
8,850 citations
TL;DR: It is shown that the opacity of suspended graphene is defined solely by the fine structure constant, a = e2/hc � 1/137 (where c is the speed of light), the parameter that describes coupling between light and relativistic electrons and that is traditionally associated with quantum electrodynamics rather than materials science.
Abstract: There are few phenomena in condensed matter physics that are defined only by the fundamental constants and do not depend on material parameters. Examples are the resistivity quantum, h/e2 (h is Planck's constant and e the electron charge), that appears in a variety of transport experiments and the magnetic flux quantum, h/e, playing an important role in the physics of superconductivity. By and large, sophisticated facilities and special measurement conditions are required to observe any of these phenomena. We show that the opacity of suspended graphene is defined solely by the fine structure constant, a = e2/hc feminine 1/137 (where c is the speed of light), the parameter that describes coupling between light and relativistic electrons and that is traditionally associated with quantum electrodynamics rather than materials science. Despite being only one atom thick, graphene is found to absorb a significant (pa = 2.3%) fraction of incident white light, a consequence of graphene's unique electronic structure.
7,952 citations
TL;DR: CMG materials are made from 1-atom thick sheets of carbon, functionalized as needed, and here their performance in an ultracapacitor cell is demonstrated, illustrating the exciting potential for high performance, electrical energy storage devices based on this new class of carbon material.
Abstract: The surface area of a single graphene sheet is 2630 m2/g, substantially higher than values derived from BET surface area measurements of activated carbons used in current electrochemical double layer capacitors. Our group has pioneered a new carbon material that we call chemically modified graphene (CMG). CMG materials are made from 1-atom thick sheets of carbon, functionalized as needed, and here we demonstrate in an ultracapacitor cell their performance. Specific capacitances of 135 and 99 F/g in aqueous and organic electrolytes, respectively, have been measured. In addition, high electrical conductivity gives these materials consistently good performance over a wide range of voltage scan rates. These encouraging results illustrate the exciting potential for high performance, electrical energy storage devices based on this new class of carbon material.
7,505 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a single epitaxial graphene layer at the silicon carbide interface is shown to reveal the Dirac nature of the charge carriers, and all-graphene electronically coherent devices and device architectures are envisaged.
Abstract: Ultrathin epitaxial graphite was grown on single-crystal silicon carbide by vacuum graphitization. The material can be patterned using standard nanolithography methods. The transport properties, which are closely related to those of carbon nanotubes, are dominated by the single epitaxial graphene layer at the silicon carbide interface and reveal the Dirac nature of the charge carriers. Patterned structures show quantum confinement of electrons and phase coherence lengths beyond 1 micrometer at 4 kelvin, with mobilities exceeding 2.5 square meters per volt-second. All-graphene electronically coherent devices and device architectures are envisaged.
4,848 citations