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Alloy Nanoclusters Steering Enhanced Solar Water Oxidation
Jia-Liang Liu1, Xian Yan1, Fang-Xing Xiao1,2
1College of Materials Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, New Campus Minhou, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China.
Inorganic Chemistry
|June 27, 2025
Summary
Introducing bimetallic gold-nickel (Au-Ni) alloy nanoclusters (NCs) for enhanced photocatalytic water splitting. Ni doping in Au NCs boosts charge transfer and stability, improving solar energy conversion efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Photocatalysis
Background:
- Metal nanoclusters (NCs) show promise as light-harvesting antennas due to unique electronic and catalytic properties.
- Homometallic NCs face limitations like short charge lifetimes, poor photostability, and challenges in controlling charge transfer.
- Heterogeneous metal doping offers a strategy to overcome these limitations in metal NCs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize bimetallic gold-nickel (Au-Ni) alloy nanoclusters (NCs) for the first time.
- To investigate the application of these Au-Ni alloy NCs as photosensitizers in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water-splitting reactions.
- To elucidate the PEC mechanism and charge transfer characteristics influenced by Ni doping in Au NCs.
Main Methods:
- Green wet-chemistry method for the synthesis of bimetallic Au-Ni alloy NCs.
- Fabrication of NCs as photosensitizers for PEC water splitting.
- Evaluation of PEC water oxidation activity under simulated solar and visible light.
- Analysis of charge transport kinetics, charge separation, and carrier lifetimes.
Main Results:
- Successful synthesis of bimetallic Au-Ni alloy NCs.
- Ni doping significantly enhanced charge transport kinetics and charge separation in Au NCs.
- Doping prolonged carrier lifetimes, leading to substantially improved and stable PEC water oxidation activities.
- Enhanced performance was observed under both simulated solar and visible light irradiation.
Conclusions:
- Bimetallic Au-Ni alloy NCs are effective photosensitizers for PEC water splitting.
- Ni doping is a viable strategy to enhance the performance and stability of metal NCs for solar energy conversion.
- The study provides insights into optimizing photoinduced carrier flow in metal NCs for advanced solar energy applications.
