Work

Heterogeneous photocatalysts: an overview of classic and modern approaches for optical, electronic, and charge dynamics evaluation

Year: 2019

Type: review

Abstract: The functionality of a photoactive semiconductor (i.e., photocatalysts, photoelectrodes, etc.) is largely dictated by three key aspects: (i) band gap; (ii) absolute potentials of the conduction band minimum and the valence band maximum; and (iii) bulk and surface charge carrier dynamics. Their relevance to governing the energetics and the photo(electro)chemical mechanisms of the semiconductor has prompted development of a multitude of characterization tools to probe the specific characteristic of the material. This review aims to summarize the current experimental techniques, including the conventional and the state-of-the-art tools, directed at examining the key aspects (i), (ii), and (iii) of semiconductors. Although not being exhaustive, this didactic review can be useful to apprise the research community of the sophisticated research tools currently available for characterization of photo(electro)catalyst semiconductors as well as to bridge the multidisciplinary knowledge.

Source: Chemical Society Reviews

DOI: 10.1039/c8cs00882e

Authors: Hui Ling Tan, Fatwa F. Abdi, Yun Hau Ng

Institutions: UNSW Sydney, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, City University of Hong Kong

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques

Subfield: Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Field: Energy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: Australian Research Council

Awards: G3009477369, G30702144, Anodisation methods and materials for solar water splitting, Overcoming the inherent instability of photocatalyst to produce solar fuels