Hydrogen-Induced Reduction Improves the Photoelectrocatalytic Performance of Titania.

ABSTRACT: One of the main challenges to expand the use of titanium dioxide (titania) as a photocatalyst is related to its large band gap energy and the lack of an atomic scale description of the reduction mechanisms that may tailor the photocatalytic properties. We show that rutile TiO₂ single crystals annealed in the presence of atomic hydrogen experience a strong reduction and structural rearrangement, yielding a material that exhibits enhanced light absorption, which extends from the ultraviolet to the near-infrared (NIR) spectral range, and improved photoelectrocatalytic performance. We demonstrate that both magnitudes behave oppositely: heavy/mild plasma reduction treatments lead to large/negligible spectral absorption changes and poor/enhanced (×10) photoelectrocatalytic performance

SUBMITTER: Sanchez-Sanchez C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10966639 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature