TiO<sub>2</sub>-HfN Radial Nano-Heterojunction: A Hot Carrier Photoanode for Sunlight-Driven Water-Splitting

Sheng Zeng; Triratna Muneshwar; Saralyn Riddell; Ajay Peter Manuel; Ehsan Vahidzadeh; Ryan Kisslinger; Pawan Kumar; Kazi Mohammad Monirul Alam; Alexander E. Kobryn; Sergey Gusarov; Kenneth C. Cadien; Karthik Shankar

doi:10.3390/catal11111374

Catalysts (Nov 2021)

TiO<sub>2</sub>-HfN Radial Nano-Heterojunction: A Hot Carrier Photoanode for Sunlight-Driven Water-Splitting

Sheng Zeng,
Triratna Muneshwar,
Saralyn Riddell,
Ajay Peter Manuel,
Ehsan Vahidzadeh,
Ryan Kisslinger,
Pawan Kumar,
Kazi Mohammad Monirul Alam,
Alexander E. Kobryn,
Sergey Gusarov,
Kenneth C. Cadien,
Karthik Shankar

Affiliations

Sheng Zeng: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
Triratna Muneshwar: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
Saralyn Riddell: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
Ajay Peter Manuel: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
Ehsan Vahidzadeh: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
Ryan Kisslinger: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
Pawan Kumar: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
Kazi Mohammad Monirul Alam: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
Alexander E. Kobryn: Nanotechnology Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, 11421 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, AB T6G 2M9, Canada
Sergey Gusarov: Nanotechnology Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, 11421 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, AB T6G 2M9, Canada
Kenneth C. Cadien: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
Karthik Shankar: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/catal11111374
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 11, no. 11
p. 1374

Abstract

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The lack of active, stable, earth-abundant, and visible-light absorbing materials to replace plasmonic noble metals is a critical obstacle for researchers in developing highly efficient and cost-effective photocatalytic systems. Herein, a core–shell nanotube catalyst was fabricated consisting of atomic layer deposited HfN shell and anodic TiO2 support layer with full-visible regime photoactivity for photoelectrochemical water splitting. The HfN active layer has two unique characteristics: (1) A large bandgap between optical and acoustic phonon modes and (2) No electronic bandgap, which allows a large population of long life-time hot carriers, which are used to enhance the photoelectrochemical performance. The photocurrent density (≈2.5 mA·cm−2 at 1 V vs. Ag/AgCl) obtained in this study under AM 1.5G 1 Sun illumination is unprecedented, as it is superior to most existing plasmonic noble metal-decorated catalysts and surprisingly indicates a photocurrent response that extends to 730 nm. The result demonstrates the far-reaching application potential of replacing active HER/HOR noble metals such as Au, Ag, Pt, Pd, etc. with low-cost plasmonic ceramics.

Published in Catalysts

ISSN: 2073-4344 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Technology: Chemical technology; Science: Chemistry
Website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/catalysts

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