Supported Black Phosphorus Nanosheets As Hydrogen-evolving Photocatalyst Achieving 5.4% Energy Conversion Efficiency at 353 K

Overview

Journal Nat Commun

Specialty Biology

Date 2018 Apr 13

PMID 29643347

Citations 21

Authors

Bin Tian

Bining Tian

Bethany Smith

M C Scott

Ruinian Hua

Qin Lei

Yue Tian

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Solar-driven water splitting using powdered catalysts is considered as the most economical means for hydrogen generation. However, four-electron-driven oxidation half-reaction showing slow kinetics, accompanying with insufficient light absorption and rapid carrier combination in photocatalysts leads to low solar-to-hydrogen energy conversion efficiency. Here, we report amorphous cobalt phosphide (Co-P)-supported black phosphorus nanosheets employed as photocatalysts can simultaneously address these issues. The nanosheets exhibit robust hydrogen evolution from pure water (pH = 6.8) without bias and hole scavengers, achieving an apparent quantum efficiency of 42.55% at 430 nm and energy conversion efficiency of over 5.4% at 353 K. This photocatalytic activity is attributed to extremely efficient utilization of solar energy (~75% of solar energy) by black phosphorus nanosheets and high-carrier separation efficiency by amorphous Co-P. The hybrid material design realizes efficient solar-to-chemical energy conversion in suspension, demonstrating the potential of black phosphorus-based materials as catalysts for solar hydrogen production.

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