Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
7732609 | Journal of Power Sources | 2015 | 8 Pages |
Abstract
The wide band-gap of TiO2 semiconductors hinders the photocatalytic hydrogen generation under visible light. In this research, we introduce glutathione-protected gold (Au-GSH) nanoclusters as a sensitizer to extend the active region of TiO2 up to a wavelength of 510Â nm under visible light spectrum. We demonstrate that Au-GSH nanoclusters are capable of enhancing photocatalytic effects for hydrogen generation in photo-electrochemical cells (PECs). The combined effects of metal nanoclusters and sacrificial agent (EDTA) enhance the photocurrent up to six times more than what can be achieved using Au-GSH nanoclusters without EDTA. Moreover, the mechanisms of interaction between Au-GSH nanoclusters and EDTA have been investigated through instantaneous photoresponse measurements. A single electrode system has been designed to simplify PECs for hydrogen generation, which exhibits the same enhanced photocatalytic effect.
Related Topics
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Authors
Hongkai Wang, Fuyi Chen, Weiyin Li, Tian Tian,