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Heterogeneous Semiconductor Shells Sequentially Coated on Upconversion Nanoplates for NIR-Light Enhanced
Cao Cui1, Meijie Tou1, Mohua Li1
1Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials, Zhejiang Normal University , Jinhua, Zhejiang 321004, P. R. China.
Inorganic Chemistry
|February 7, 2017
Summary
New core-shell nanocomposites combine upconversion nanocrystals (UCNs) with cerium dioxide (CeO2) for efficient near-infrared (NIR) light photocatalysis. Adding a ZnO shell further boosts performance by improving charge separation in these hybrid photocatalysts.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Photocatalysis
Background:
- Upconversion nanocrystals (UCNs) combined with cerium dioxide (CeO2) offer potential for near-infrared (NIR) light-activated photocatalysts.
- Utilizing NIR light, a significant portion of the solar spectrum, is crucial for efficient photocatalysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a facile method for creating CeO2-coated NaYF4:Yb,Tm UCNs core-shell structures.
- To enhance photocatalytic activity by forming a ZnO/CeO2/UCNs heterojunction for improved charge separation.
- To investigate the working mechanism of these novel UCN-semiconductor heterojunction photocatalysts.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of plate-shaped NaYF4:Yb,Tm UCNs.
- Deposition of a controllable CeO2 layer onto UCNs.
- Sequential coating of a ZnO shell to form a heterojunction structure.
- Characterization using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy.
Main Results:
- Successfully synthesized CeO2-coated UCNs core-shell nanocomposites with controllable CeO2 thickness.
- Demonstrated significant photocatalytic activity under NIR light irradiation.
- Observed enhanced photocatalytic performance under full solar spectrum irradiation.
- Confirmed improved electron-hole separation due to the ZnO/CeO2 heterojunction structure.
Conclusions:
- The developed CeO2/UCNs and ZnO/CeO2/UCNs hybrid photocatalysts are effective for NIR light utilization.
- The heterojunction structure significantly enhances photocatalytic efficiency by promoting charge carrier separation.
- These findings present a promising strategy for designing advanced photocatalysts for solar energy applications.
