Metal-centred states control carrier lifetimes in transition metal oxide photocatalysts.

ABSTRACT: Efficient sunlight-to-energy conversion requires materials that can generate long-lived charge carriers upon illumination. However, the targeted design of semiconductors possessing intrinsically long lifetimes remains a key challenge. Here using a series of transition metal oxides, we establish a link between carrier lifetime and electronic configuration in transition metal-based semiconductors. We identify a subpicosecond relaxation mechanism via metal-centred ligand field states that compromise quantum yields in open d-shell transition metal oxides (for example, Fe₂O₃, Co₃O₄, Cr₂O₃ and NiO), which is more reminiscent of molecular complexes than crystalline semiconductors. We found that materials with spin-forbidden ligand

SUBMITTER: Sachs M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12411273 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature