Defect-mediated electron transfer in photocatalysts.

Impact Factor:

6.222

DOI number:

10.1039/d1cc00204j

Journal:

Chem. Commun.

Key Words:

Carbon nitride, Charge transfer, Electron transitions, Electron transport properties, Electronic structure, Energy policy, Laser spectroscopy, Light absorption, Photocatalytic activity, Charge transfer process, Electronic structure of semiconductors, Mediated electron transfer, Photocatalytic reactions, Photogenerated electrons, Theoretical simulation, Time-resolved spectroscopy, Visible light absorption, Defects, carbon, titanium dioxide, unclassified drug, Article, catalyst, chemical engineering, chemical structure, defect engineering, electron transport, photocatalysis, photocatalyst, simulation, time resolved spectroscopy

Abstract:

Photocatalysis holds great potential in alleviating the growing energy crisis and environmental issues. Defect engineering has been demonstrated as an effective method to modulate the electronic structure of semiconductor photocatalysts for enhanced visible light absorption. However, the effect of defects on photocatalytic activity is still under debate because of the elusive charge transfer process mediated by defects. In this feature article, we summarize our recent progress in unraveling the defect-mediated electron transfer of the widely studied TiO2 and polymeric carbon nitride photocatalysts by combining ultrafast time-resolved spectroscopy and theoretical simulations. We find that the photogenerated electron transfer is greatly dependent on the type and concentration of defects. The location and occupation of defect states, and the dispersion degree of the energy band should be carefully tuned to maximize the advantages of defects for photocatalytic reactions.

First Author:

Jiawei Xue

Correspondence Author:

Mamoru Fujitsuka, Tetsuro Majima

Document Type:

SCI

Volume:

57

Issue:

29

Page Number:

3532-3542

Translation or Not:

no

Date of Publication:

2021-03-11

Links to published journals:

https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2021/CC/D1CC00204J