Issue

Vol. 11 (2019)

Ferroelectric Oxide Nanocomposites with Trimodal Pore Structure for High Photocatalytic Performance

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-019-0268-y
Tingting Xu
Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, People’s Republic of China
Xuan Liu
Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, People’s Republic of China
Shulan Wang
Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, People’s Republic of China
Li Li
School of Metallurgy, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, People’s Republic of China

Corresponding Author: Li Li

lilicmu@alumni.cmu.edu

Nano-Micro Letters, Vol. 11 (2019), Article Number: 37

Abstract

An effective method to improve the photocatalytic performances of powder catalysts is to use the internal electric field from ferroelectrics to separate photogenerated charge carriers. The design and engineering of a complex hetero-junction with a hierarchical pore structure is highly desirable for the efficient application of ferroelectric materials in photocatalysis. Here, we present a novel strategy using two templates to fabricate PbTiO3/TiO2/carbon (PTC) nanocomposites with a tunable microstructure. A hard SiO2 template combined with an ice template followed by an appropriate pyrolysis procedure introduced trimodal (micro-, meso-, macro-) porosity. The as-prepared PTC nanocomposites with optimal mass ratio exhibited excellent photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical performances. PbTiO3/TiO2 annealed at 900 °C (PTC-900) showed a MB degradation rate of 0.21 and 0.021 min−1 under UV and visible light irradiation, which are, respectively, 7.2 and 3 times those of pure PbTiO3. The photocurrent density of the composite catalyst is 1.48 mA cm−2 at the potential of 1.0 V versus saturated calomel electrode, and the rates of hydrogen generation of PTC-900 are as high as 2360 and 9.6 μmol h−1 g−1 under UV and visible light irradiation, respectively. More importantly, the simultaneous application of ultrasound-induced mechanical waves further improved the photocatalytic reactivity. This work serves to improve understanding on the design of ferroelectric/piezoelectric photocatalysts with a hierarchical pore structure and also proposes a widely applicable strategy for the fabrication of high-performance micro–nano/nano–nano structures.


Highlights:


1 PbTiO3/TiO2@carbon (PTC) composites with trimodal pore distribution were synthesized by a dual-template method. Localized quasi-1D nanoneedle morphology was formed that can promote charge separation.
2 The as-prepared PTC nanocomposites with optimal mass ratio exhibited excellent photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical performances.

Keywords

Ferroelectric photocatalysis Piezoelectric Hierarchical pores Photocatalytic hydrogen production Triple-junction
Xu, Tingting, Xuan Liu, Shulan Wang, and Li Li. 2019. “Ferroelectric Oxide Nanocomposites With Trimodal Pore Structure for High Photocatalytic Performance”. Nano-Micro Letters 11 (May):37. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-019-0268-y.
Download Citation
Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)
BibTeX
References
  1. X. Liang, P. Wang, M. Li, Q. Zhang, Z. Wang et al., Adsorption of gaseous ethylene via induced polarization on plasmonic photocatalyst Ag/AgCl/TiO2 and subsequent photodegradation. Appl. Catal. B Environ. 220, 356–361 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2017.07.075
  2. R.-B. Wei, Z.-L. Huang, G.-H. Gu, Z. Wang, L. Zeng, Y. Chen, Z.-Q. Liu, Dual-cocatalysts decorated rimous CdS spheres advancing highly-efficient visible-light photocatalytic hydrogen production. Appl. Catal. B Environ. 231, 101–107 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2018.03.014
  3. L. Li, P.A. Salvador, G.S. Rohrer, Photocatalysts with internal electric fields. Nanoscale 6, 24–42 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1039/C3NR03998F
  4. L. Li, G.S. Rohrer, P.A. Salvador, E. Dickey, Heterostructured ceramic powders for photocatalytic hydrogen production: nanostructured TiO2 shells surrounding microcrystalline (Ba, Sr)TiO3 cores. J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 95, 1414–1420 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1551-2916.2012.05076.x
  5. L. Li, X. Liu, Y. Zhang, P.A. Salvador, G.S. Rohrer, Heterostructured (Ba, Sr)TiO3/TiO2 core/shell photocatalysts: influence of processing and structure on hydrogen production. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 38, 6948–6959 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.03.130
  6. Y. Kuroiwa, S. Aoyagi, A. Sawada, J. Harada, E. Nishibori, M. Takata, M. Sakata, Evidence for Pb-O covalency in tetragonal PbTiO3. Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 217601 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.87.217601
  7. R.E. Cohen, Origin of ferroelectricity in perovskite oxides. Nature 358, 136–138 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1038/358136a0
  8. L. Li, Y. Zhang, A.M. Schultz, X. Liu, P.A. Salvador, G.S. Rohrer, Visible light photochemical activity of heterostructured PbTiO3/TiO2 core-shell particles. Catal. Sci. Technol. 2, 1945 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1039/c2cy20202f
  9. Q. Zheng, Y. Guo, F. Lei, X. Wu, D. Lin, Microstructure, ferroelectric, piezoelectric and ferromagnetic properties of BiFeO3–BaTiO3–Bi(Zn0.5Ti0.5)O3 lead-free multiferroic ceramics. J. Mater. Sci.: Mater. Electron. 25, 2638–2648 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-014-1923-1
  10. L. Li, X. Liu, Y. Zhang, N.T. Nuhfer, K. Barmak, P.A. Salvador, G.S. Rohrer, Visible-light photochemical activity of heterostructured core-shell materials composed of selected ternary titanates and ferrites coated by TiO2. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces. 5, 5064–5071 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1021/am4008837
  11. G. Liu, L. Ma, L.-C. Yin, G. Wan, H. Zhu, C. Zhen, Y. Yang, Y. Liang, J. Tan, Selective chemical epitaxial growth of TiO2 islands on ferroelectric PbTiO3 crystals to boost photocatalytic activity. Joule 2, 1095–1107 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2018.03.006
  12. Y. Zhang, A.M. Schultz, L. Li, H. Chien, P.A. Salvador, G.S. Rohrer, Combinatorial substrate epitaxy: a high-throughput method for determining phase and orientation relationships and its application to BiFeO3/TiO2 heterostructures. Acta Mater. 60, 6486–6493 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2012.07.060
  13. Y. Cui, J. Briscoe, S. Dunn, Effect of ferroelectricity on solar-light-driven photocatalytic activity of BaTiO3—influence on the carrier separation and stern layer formation. Chem. Mater. 25, 4215–4223 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1021/cm402092f
  14. P. Wang, B. Huang, X. Qin, X. Zhang, Y. Dai, J. Wei, M.-H. Whangbo, Ag@AgCl: a highly efficient and stable photocatalyst active under visible light. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 120, 8049–8051 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1002/ange.200802483
  15. N.V. Burbure, P.A. Salvador, G.S. Rohrer, Photochemical reactivity of titania films on BaTiO3 substrates: influence of titania phase and orientation. Chem. Mater. 22, 5831–5837 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1021/cm1018019
  16. Y. Zhang, A.M. Schultz, P.A. Salvador, G.S. Rohrer, Spatially selective visible light photocatalytic activity of TiO2/BiFeO3 heterostructures. J. Mater. Chem. 21, 4168 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1039/c0jm04313c
  17. C.R. Bowen, H.A. Kim, P.M. Weaver, S. Dunn, Piezoelectric and ferroelectric materials and structures for energy harvesting applications. Energy Environ. Sci. 7, 25–44 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1039/C3EE42454E
  18. H.-A. Park, S. Liu, P.A. Salvador, G.S. Rohrer, M.F. Islam, High visible-light photochemical activity of titania decorated on single-wall carbon nanotube aerogels. RSC Adv. 6, 22285–22294 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1039/C6RA03801H
  19. S. Dutta, A. Bhaumik, K.C. Wu, Hierarchically porous carbon derived from polymers and biomass: effect of interconnected pores on energy applications. Energy Environ. Sci. 7, 3574–3592 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1039/C4EE01075B
  20. H. Wang, X. Liu, S. Wang, L. Li, Dual templating fabrication of hierarchical porous three-dimensional ZnO/carbon nanocomposites for enhanced photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical activity. Appl. Catal. B Environ. 222, 209–218 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2017.10.012
  21. H. Wang, H. Liu, S. Wang, L. Li, X. Liu, Influence of tunable pore size on photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical performances of hierarchical porous TiO2/C nanocomposites synthesized via dual-Templating. Appl. Catal. B Environ. 224, 341–349 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2017.10.039
  22. H. Liu, X. Liu, S. Mu, S. Wang, S. Wang, L. Li, E.P. Giannelis, A novel fabrication approach for three-dimensional hierarchical porous metal oxide/carbon nanocomposites for enhanced solar photocatalytic performance. Catal. Sci. Technol. 7, 1965–1970 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1039/C7CY00317J
  23. J. Ran, T.Y. Ma, G. Gao, X.-W. Du, S.Z. Qiao, Porous P-doped graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets for synergistically enhanced visible-light photocatalytic H2 production. Energy Environ. Sci. 8, 3708–3717 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1039/C5EE02650D
  24. H.J. Lee, S. Zhang, J. Luo, F. Li, T.R. Shrout, Thickness dependent properties of relaxor-PbTiO3 ferroelectrics for ultrasonic transducers. Adv. Funct. Mater. 20, 3154–3162 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201000390
  25. A. Leelavathi, G. Madras, N. Ravishankar, Origin of enhanced photocatalytic activity and photoconduction in high aspect ratio ZnO nanorods. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 15, 10795–10802 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1039/c3cp51058a
  26. H.J. Yun, H. Lee, J.B. Joo, W. Kim, J, Yi, Influence of aspect ratio of TiO2 nanorods on the photocatalytic decomposition of formic acid. J. Phys. Chem. C 113, 3050–3055 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1021/jp808604t
  27. N. Wetchakun, S. Phanichphant, Effect of temperature on the degree of anatase–rutile transformation in titanium dioxide nanoparticles synthesized by the modified sol–gel method. Curr. Appl. Phys. 8, 343–346 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cap.2007.10.028
  28. B. Tryba, A.W. Morawski, M. Inagaki, Application of TiO2-mounted activated carbon to the removal of phenol from water. Appl. Catal. B Environ. 41, 427–433 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1016/S0926-3373(02)00173-X
  29. T. Ohno, K. Tokieda, S. Higashida, M. Matsumura, Synergism between rutile and anatase TiO2 particles in photocatalytic oxidation of naphthalene. Appl. Catal. A Gen. 244, 383–391 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1016/S0926-860X(02)00610-5
  30. C. Wu, Y. Yue, X. Deng, W. Hua, Z. Gao, Investigation on the synergetic effect between anatase and rutile nanoparticles in gas-phase photocatalytic oxidations. Catal. Today 93–95, 863–869 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cattod.2004.06.087
  31. J. Lin, M. Guo, C.T. Yip, W. Lu, G. Zhang, X.L. Liu, L.M. Zhou, X.F. Chen, High temperature crystallization of free-standing anatase TiO2 nanotube membranes for high efficiency dye sensitized solar cells. Adv. Funct. Mater. 23, 5952–5960 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201301066
  32. F. Huang, K.T. Yue, P. Tan, S.-L. Zhang, Z. Shi, X. Zhou, Z. Gu, Temperature dependence of the Raman spectra of carbon nanotubes. J. Appl. Phys. 84, 4022–4024 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.368585
  33. S. Kurita, A. Yoshimura, H. Kawamoto, T. Uchida, K. Kojima, M. Tachibana, P. Molina-Morales, H. Nakai, Raman spectra of carbon nanowalls grown by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. J. Appl. Phys. 97, 104320 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1900297
  34. J. Zhong, F. Chen, J. Zhang, Carbon-deposited TiO2: synthesis, characterization, and visible photocatalytic performance. J. Phys. Chem. C 114, 933–939 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1021/jp909835m
  35. D. Mitoraj, H. Kisch, The nature of nitrogen-modified titanium dioxide photocatalysts active in visible light. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 47, 9975–9978 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.200800304
  36. L.-W. Zhang, H.-B. Fu, Y.-F. Zhu, Efficient TiO2 photocatalysts from surface hybridization of TiO2 particles with graphite-like carbon. Adv. Funct. Mater. 18, 2180–2189 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.200701478
  37. C.G. Silva, J.L. Faria, Photocatalytic oxidation of benzene derivatives in aqueous suspensions: synergic effect induced by the introduction of carbon nanotubes in a TiO2 matrix. Appl. Catal. B: Environ. 101, 81–89 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2010.09.010
  38. F.F. Ge, W.D. Wu, X.M. Wang, H.P. Wang, Y. Dai, H.B. Wang, J. Shen, The first-principle calculation of structures and defect energies in tetragonal PbTiO3. Physica B Condens. Matter 404, 3814–3818 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physb.2009.06.150
  39. L. Liu, T. Ning, Y. Ren, Z. Sun, F. Wang et al., Synthesis, characterization, photoluminescence and ferroelectric properties of PbTiO3 nanotube arrays. Mater. Sci. Eng., B 149, 41–46 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mseb.2007.12.003
  40. C.H. Jeon, Y.S. Lee, K.J. Yee, J.K. Han, S.D. Bu, Strain effect on the visible emission in PbTiO3 nanotubes: template and wall-thickness dependence. Curr. Appl. Phys. 15, 115–119 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cap.2014.11.017
  41. Y. Yang, X. Wang, C. Sun, L. Li, Photoluminescence of high-aspect-ratio PbTiO3 nanotube arrays. J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 91, 3820–3822 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1551-2916.2008.02763.x
  42. Z.W. Mei, B.K. Zhang, J.X. Zheng, S. Yuan, Z.Q. Zhuo et al., Tuning Cu dopant of Zn0.5Cd0.5S nanocrystals enables high-performance photocatalytic H2 evolution from water splitting under visible-light irradiation. Nano Energy 26, 405–416 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2016.05.051
  43. A.A. Ismail, I. Abdelfattah, M. Faisal, A. Helal, Efficient photodecomposition of herbicide imazapyr over mesoporous Ga2O3-TiO2 nanocomposites. J. Hazard. Mater. 342, 519–526 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2017.08.046
  44. C. Wang, Z. Chen, H. Jin, C. Cao, J. Li, Z. Mi, Enhancing visible-light photoelectrochemical water splitting through transition-metal doped TiO2 nanorod arrays. J. Mater. Chem. A 2, 17820–17827 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TA04254A
  45. X. Li, J. Yu, M. Jaroniec, Hierarchical photocatalysts. Chem. Soc. Rev. 45, 2603–2636 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1039/C5CS00838G
  46. L. Zhang, X. He, X. Xu, C. Liu, Y. Duan et al., Highly active TiO2/g-C3N4/G photocatalyst with extended spectral response towards selective reduction of nitrobenzene. Appl. Catal. B Environ. 203, 1–8 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2016.10.003
  47. C.J. Lu, A.X. Kuang, G.Y. Huang, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study on composition and structure of sol-gel derived PbTiO3 thin films. J. Appl. Phys. 80, 202–206 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.362805
  48. K.B. Lee, K.H. Lee, J.O. Cha, J.S. Ahn, Ti-O binding states of resistive switching TiO2 thin films prepared by reactive magnetron sputtering. J. Korean Phys. Soc. 53, 1996–2001 (2008). https://doi.org/10.3938/jkps.53.1996
  49. T. Xu, W. Hou, X. Shen, H. Wu, X. Li, J. Wang, Z. Jiang, Sulfonated titania submicrospheres-doped sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) hybrid membranes with enhanced proton conductivity and reduced methanol permeability. J. Power Sources 196, 4934–4942 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2011.02.017
  50. X. Chen, L. Liu, L. Yi, G. Guo, M. Li, J. Xie, Y. Ouyang, X. Wang, High-performance lithium storage of Ti3+-doped anatase TiO2@C composite spheres. RSC Adv. 6, 99695–99703 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1039/C6RA22105J
  51. W. Ren, Z. Ai, F. Jia, L. Zhang, X. Fan, Z. Zou, Low temperature preparation and visible light photocatalytic activity of mesoporous carbon-doped crystalline TiO2. Appl. Catal. B Environ. 69, 138–144 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2006.06.015
  52. I. Popescu, A. Urda, T. Yuzhakova, I.-C. Marcu, J. Kovacs, I. Sandulescu, BaTiO3 and PbTiO3 perovskite as catalysts for methane combustion. C. R. Chimie. 12, 1072–1078 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crci.2008.09.006
  53. D. Leinen, A. Fernández, J.P. Espinós, A.R. Gonzalez-Elipe, XPS and ISS study of NiTiO3 and PbTiO3 subjected to low-energy ion bombardment. Surf. Interface Anal. 20, 941–948 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1002/sia.740201203
  54. Y. Yu, Z. Ren, M. Li, S. Gong, S. Yin et al., Facile synthesis and visible photocatalytic activity of single-crystal TiO2/PbTiO3 heterostructured nanofiber composites. CrystEngComm 17, 1024–1029 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1039/C4CE01864H
  55. A. Houas, H. Lachheb, M.E. KsibiElaloui, C. Guillard, J.-M. Herrmann, Photocatalytic degradation pathway of methylene blue in water. Appl. Catal. B Environ. 31, 145–157 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1016/S0926-3373(00)00276-9
  56. C.M. Parlett, K. Wilson, A.F. Lee, Hierarchical porous materials: catalytic applications. Chem. Soc. Rev. 42, 3876–3893 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1039/C2CS35378D
  57. D.C. Hurum, K.A. Gray, T. Rajh, M.C. Thurnauer, Recombination pathways in the Degussa P25 formulation of TiO2: surface versus lattice mechanisms. J. Phys. Chem. B 109, 977–980 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1021/jp045395d
  58. X. Li, J. Xie, C. Jiang, J. Yu, P. Zhang, Review on design and evaluation of environmental photocatalysts. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 12, 14 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-018-1076-1
  59. K. Qi, C. Bei, J. Yu, W. Ho, A review on TiO2-based Z-scheme photocatalysts. Chinese. J. Catal. 38, 1936–1955 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/S1872-2067(17)62962-0
  60. L. Liang, K. Li, K. Lv, W. Ho, Y. Duan, Highly photoreactive TiO2 hollow microspheres with super thermal stability for acetone oxidation.Chinese. J. Catal. 38, 2085–2093 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/S1872-2067(17)62952-8
  61. G. Dai, H. Qin, H. Zhou, W. Wang, T. Luo, Template-free fabrication of Hierarchical macro/mesoporpous SnS2/TiO2, composite with enhanced photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO). Appl. Surf. Sci. 430, 488–495 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2017.06.091
  62. Y. Qiu, F. Ouyang, Fabrication of TiO2 hierarchical architecture assembled by nanowires with anatase/TiO2(B) phase-junctions for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production. Appl. Surf. Sci. 403, 691–698 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2017.01.255
  63. A. Meng, B. Zhu, B. Zhong, L. Zhang, B. Cheng, Direct Z-scheme TiO2/CdS hierarchical photocatalyst for enhanced photocatalytic H2-production activity. Appl. Surf. Sci. 422, 518–527 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2017.06.028
  64. T. Huang, J. Lu, R. Xiao, Q. Wu, W. Yang, Enhanced photocatalytic properties of hierarchical three-dimensional TiO2 grown on femtosecond laser structured titanium substrate. Appl. Surf. Sci. 403, 584–589 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2017.01.203
  65. A.M. Glass, D. von der Linde, T.J. Negran, High-voltage bulk photovoltaic effect and the photorefractive process in LiNbO3. Appl. Phys. Lett. 25, 233–235 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1655453
  66. R. Shen, C. Jiang, Q. Xiang, J. Xie, X. Li, Surface and interface engineering of hierarchical photocatalysts. Appl. Surf. Sci. 471, 43–87 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2018.11.205
  67. X. Li, J. Yu, M. Jaroniec, X. Chen, Cocatalysts for selective photoreduction of CO2 into solar fuels. Chem. Rev. 119, 3962–4179 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.8b00400
Read More
Author biographies are not available.
Download this PDF file
PDF SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL
Statistic
Read Counter : 5680 Download : 4291

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 > >>