Rhodium Single-Atom Decorated CeO₂:Yb,Er/Rh-ZnIn₂S₄ With Enhanced Photo-Thermo-Electric Effects for Efficient H₂...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Photocatalysis
• Renewable Energy

Background:

• Semiconductor catalysts often struggle with near-infrared (NIR) light absorption and slow charge-carrier dynamics, limiting their photocatalytic efficiency.
• Efficient solar energy conversion requires catalysts that can utilize a broader spectrum of sunlight and overcome charge recombination.
• Developing advanced materials for green hydrogen production and biomass valorization is crucial for sustainable chemistry.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel photocatalyst for enhanced solar-driven hydrogen production and biomass conversion.
• To improve the utilization of near-infrared (NIR) light in semiconductor photocatalysis.
• To investigate the synergistic effects of single-atom doping and heterojunctions on photocatalytic performance.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized a composite photocatalyst, CeO2:Yb,Er/Rh-ZnIn2S4, incorporating Rh single atoms (SAs) into ZnIn2S4.
• Utilized CeO2:Yb,Er for up-conversion and two-photon photo-electronic processes to activate the catalyst with NIR light.
• Investigated the photo-thermo-electric effects and interface properties to enhance charge separation and catalytic activity.

Main Results:

• The CeO2:Yb,Er/Rh-ZnIn2S4 photocatalyst demonstrated significantly improved hydrogen production rates (up to 99.68 mmol·g-1·h-1 at 10°C).
• The material effectively suppressed charge recombination and enhanced reaction kinetics through photo-thermal effects.
• Successfully converted glucose into high-value chemicals like arabinose concurrently with hydrogen generation under mild conditions.

Conclusions:

• Introducing Rh single atoms into CeO2:Yb,Er/ZnIn2S4 is an effective strategy to enhance NIR light utilization and photocatalytic efficiency.
• The combined photo-thermo-electric effects and optimized interface properties are key to superior performance.
• This approach offers a promising pathway for sustainable green hydrogen production and efficient biomass valorization.