Work

Sculpting with Light: Precise Nanoscale Positioning of Rh 2 O 3 Co-Catalyst for Solar-To-Fuel Photocatalysis

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Precise placement of robust oxide cocatalysts on semiconductor nanostructures remains a bottleneck in designing durable photocatalysts. Here, we unveil a purely photochemical route that directs the nucleation of orthorhombic-phase Rh 2 O 3 to a single domain on CdSe@CdS photocatalytic nanorods with over 85% fidelity. Three easily tuned levers govern the outcome–alkaline pH, excitation wavelength and the presence or absence of sodium persulfate (Na 2 S 2 O 8 ) as a sacrificial electron acceptor/oxidant. Together they concentrate photogenerated holes at the CdSe seed, suppress rod-wide • OH chemistry and yield deterministic single-domain growth; flipping any one parameter reopens undesired multidomain nucleation. Time-resolved photoluminescence and XPS confirm that hole localization, rather than precursor type or concentration, triggers the switch. Beyond furnishing a synthetically simple “dial-in” recipe, this work maps the mechanistic landscape for coupling stable oxidation sites to photoactive semiconductors, charting a path toward efficient water-splitting architectures and other nanoscale redox systems.

Source: ACS Applied Nano Materials

DOI: 10.1021/acsanm.5c05603

Authors: Vineet Rojwal, Lilac Amirav

Institution: Technion – Israel Institute of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques

Subfield: Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Field: Energy

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,500