{"title":"Structural and optical investigation of Nb5+-doped Sn3O4 for photoelectrochemical hydrogen production","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.jpcs.2024.112334","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We report herein, the microwave-assisted hydrothermal (MAH) synthesis of Nb<sup>5+</sup>-doped Sn<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> nanoparticles for the photoelectrochemical production of hydrogen (H<sub>2</sub>). Nb<sup>5+</sup> ions inside the Sn<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> created structural defects, contributing to a local structural disorder, as confirmed by micro-Raman spectra. Photoluminescence spectroscopy indicated the decrease of the violet-blue–green visible emission after adding Nb<sup>5+</sup>, revealing the formation of alternative energy pathways for the electron/hole recombination. Through the morphological analysis, it was observed that the Nb<sup>5+</sup> dopant slightly changed the morphology of nano-petals in Sn<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>. We demonstrate that the 3 % Nb<sup>5+</sup> doped-Sn<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> photoanode presented higher charge carrier mobility, higher photocurrent density, and an impressive H<sub>2</sub> production of 1.50 mmol L<sup>−1</sup> in a 3 h experiment, compared to the pure Sn<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> material. The best performance of the Nb<sup>5+</sup> doped Sn<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> nanomaterial could be ascribed to the formation of new energy levels in the Sn<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> band gap, thereby inhibiting the electron-hole pair recombination and positively affecting the photoelectrochemical response of the doped material.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16811,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.3000,"publicationDate":"2024-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids","FirstCategoryId":"88","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022369724004694","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"CHEMISTRY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
We report herein, the microwave-assisted hydrothermal (MAH) synthesis of Nb5+-doped Sn3O4 nanoparticles for the photoelectrochemical production of hydrogen (H2). Nb5+ ions inside the Sn3O4 created structural defects, contributing to a local structural disorder, as confirmed by micro-Raman spectra. Photoluminescence spectroscopy indicated the decrease of the violet-blue–green visible emission after adding Nb5+, revealing the formation of alternative energy pathways for the electron/hole recombination. Through the morphological analysis, it was observed that the Nb5+ dopant slightly changed the morphology of nano-petals in Sn3O4. We demonstrate that the 3 % Nb5+ doped-Sn3O4 photoanode presented higher charge carrier mobility, higher photocurrent density, and an impressive H2 production of 1.50 mmol L−1 in a 3 h experiment, compared to the pure Sn3O4 material. The best performance of the Nb5+ doped Sn3O4 nanomaterial could be ascribed to the formation of new energy levels in the Sn3O4 band gap, thereby inhibiting the electron-hole pair recombination and positively affecting the photoelectrochemical response of the doped material.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids is a well-established international medium for publication of archival research in condensed matter and materials sciences. Areas of interest broadly include experimental and theoretical research on electronic, magnetic, spectroscopic and structural properties as well as the statistical mechanics and thermodynamics of materials. The focus is on gaining physical and chemical insight into the properties and potential applications of condensed matter systems.
Within the broad scope of the journal, beyond regular contributions, the editors have identified submissions in the following areas of physics and chemistry of solids to be of special current interest to the journal:
Low-dimensional systems
Exotic states of quantum electron matter including topological phases
Energy conversion and storage
Interfaces, nanoparticles and catalysts.