Mitchell, R, Drummond-Brydson, R and Douthwaite, RE (2015) Enhancement of hydrogen production using photoactive nanoparticles on a photochemically inert photonic macroporous support. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 17 (1). 493 - 499. ISSN 1463-9076
Abstract
The propagation of light in photonic materials can be modified to increase the probability of photon absorption. Here we report the synthesis of composite materials comprising a photochemically inert photonic macroporous ZrO2 support decorated with photocatalytically active CdS nanoparticles. The relative energies of valence and conduction bands restrict photon absorption and catalysis to the CdS nanoparticles. The generation of hydrogen from water under visible light illumination (>400 nm) has been studied as a function of the photonic support. A maximum 4.7 fold enhancement in hydrogen production is observed compared to a non-photonic support when the absorption band of the CdS nanoparticles partially overlaps with the blue edge of the photonic ZrO2 stop band. This general strategy supports the independent optimization of optical and photochemical processes to increase the overall conversion efficiency of solar to chemical energy.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2014, RSC. This is an author produced version of a paper published in Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences (Leeds) > School of Chemical & Process Engineering (Leeds) > Institute for Materials Research (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 26 Feb 2015 12:19 |
Last Modified: | 10 Dec 2016 08:14 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c4cp04333b |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Royal Society of Chemistry |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1039/c4cp04333b |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:83156 |