title: Multi-shelled CeO₂ hollow microspheres as superior photocatalysts for water oxidation.
abstract: A general self-templating method is introduced to construct triple-shelled CeO₂ hollow microspheres, which are composed of tiny CeO₂ nanoparticles. When the triple-shelled CeO₂ hollow microspheres are used as photocatalysts for direct water oxidation with AgNO₃ as the electron scavenger, excellent activity and enhanced stability for O₂ evolution are achieved, in contrast with commercial CeO₂ nanoparticles, single-shelled CeO₂ hollow microspheres and double-shelled CeO₂ hollow microspheres. Such an outstanding performance is attributed to the unique properties of the triple-shelled CeO₂ hollow microspheres including more efficient multiple reflections of the incident light by the inner shells, the larger surface area and more active sites for improving separation of electron-hole pairs, and the more curved surfaces unfavorable for deposition of in situ generated Ag nanoparticles.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Nanomaterials, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, P. R. China. zytang@nanoctr.cn.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Guodong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Huijun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ranbo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Zhiyong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D002563:Cerium / Q000737:chemistry*; D008863:Microspheres; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry*; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D014867:Water; D002563:Cerium; C030583:ceric oxide; D010100:Oxygen