Gas-Phase Nitrogen Doping of Monolithic TiO2 Nanoparticle-Based Aerogels for Efficient Visible Light-Driven Photocatalytic H2 Production


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Date

2021-11-17

Publication Type

Journal Article

ETH Bibliography

yes

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Abstract

The development of visible light-active photocatalysts is essential for increasing the conversion efficiency of solar energy into hydrogen (H2). Here, we present a facile method for nitrogen doping of monolithic titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticle-based aerogels to activate them for visible light. Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition at low temperature enables efficient incorporation of nitrogen into preformed TiO2 aerogels without compromising their advantageous intrinsic characteristics such as large surface area, extensive porosity, and nanoscale properties of the semiconducting building blocks. By balancing the dopant concentration and the defects, the nitridation improves optical absorption and charge separation efficiency. The nitrogen-doped TiO2 nanoparticle-based aerogels loaded with palladium (Pd) nanoparticles show a significant enhancement in visible light-driven photocatalytic H2 production (3.1 mmol h–1 g–1) with excellent stability over 5 days. With this method, we introduce a powerful tool to tune the properties of nanoparticle-based aerogels after synthesis for a specific application, as exemplified by visible light-driven H2 production.

Publication status

published

Editor

Book title

Volume

13 (45)

Pages / Article No.

53691 - 53701

Publisher

American Chemical Society

Event

Edition / version

Methods

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Date collected

Date created

Subject

Nitrogen-doped titania; Aerogels; Hydrogen production; Photocatalysis; Nanoparticles

Organisational unit

03763 - Niederberger, Markus / Niederberger, Markus check_circle

Notes

Funding

184842 - Nanoparticle-based aerogels for photocatalytic gas phase reactions (SNF)

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