Efficient Near-Infrared-Activated Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution from Ammonia Borane with Core-Shell
Andrew J Evangelista1, Mariia Ivanchenko1, Hao Jing1
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA.
Novel core-shell nanostructures enable efficient hydrogen production from ammonia borane using near-infrared light. This breakthrough in photocatalysis offers a promising route for on-demand hydrogen generation, enhancing green energy solutions.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Photocatalysis
Background:
- Ammonia borane is a promising hydrogen storage material.
- Efficient hydrogen evolution requires effective catalysts and energy input.
- Near-infrared (NIR) light offers a non-ionizing and deep-penetrating excitation source.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from ammonia borane using NIR laser irradiation.
- To develop novel core-shell upconversion-semiconductor hybrid nanostructures for enhanced photocatalysis.
- To investigate the mechanism of NIR-driven hydrogen production and the stability of the photocatalyst.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of NaGdF4:Yb3+/Er3+@NaGdF4@Cu2O core-shell nanostructures.
- Characterization using HRTEM, photoluminescence, EDAX, and XRD.
- Testing photocatalytic activity under NIR irradiation in an aqueous medium.
Main Results:
- The hybrid nanostructures exhibited significantly higher photocatalytic activity compared to bare upconversion nanoparticles.
- Efficient energy transfer from upconversion nanoparticles to the Cu2O shell facilitated charge separation.
- Photoinduced electrons and hydroxyl radicals promoted ammonia borane dissociation, yielding hydrogen.
- The NaGdF4:Yb3+/Er3+@NaGdF4@Cu2O (UCNPs@Cu2O) photocatalyst showed excellent stability over multiple cycles.
Conclusions:
- Rational design of NIR-activated photocatalysts is crucial for efficient hydrogen generation.
- Core-shell upconversion-semiconductor nanostructures are effective for harnessing NIR light.
- This work provides a proof-of-concept for on-board hydrogen generation from ammonia borane using NIR illumination for green energy applications.
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