Hierarchical assembly of TiO2-SrTiO3 heterostructures on conductive SnO2 backbone nanobelts for enhanced photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic performance.
Heterostructures can play a role in enhanced photoinduced electrochemical and catalytic reactions due to the advantageous combination of two compounds. Herein, we demonstrate the fabrication of Sb:SnO2@TiO2-SrTiO3 3D heterostructures via a simple hydrothermal method using a conductive Sb:SnO2@TiO2 nanobelt electrode as a template. XRD, FESEM, and TEM analyses confirm that a well-dispersed and crystalized SrTiO3 layer is formed on the surface of TiO2 nanorods. The photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance of the heterostructure is optimized by controlling the reaction time. Details about the effect of the hydrothermal reaction time on the PEC performance are discussed. The optimized Sb:SnO2@TiO2-SrTiO3 heterostructure exhibited a higher onset potential and a saturated photocurrent in comparison to the Sb:SnO2@TiO2 nanostructure. The result is attributed to a Fermi level shift and a blocking layer effect caused by the SrTiO3. Furthermore, the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue was significantly enhanced on the optimized Sb:SnO2@TiO2-SrTiO3. This work demonstrates that a synergetic effect between three-dimensional nanoarchitecturing and a heterojunction structure is responsible for enhanced PEC as well as improved photocatalytic performance levels, both of which can be extended to other metal-oxide and/or ternary compounds.
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-744, Republic of Korea.
Sangbaek
S
Park
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-744, Republic of Korea.
Sanghyeon
S
Kim
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-744, Republic of Korea.
Hae Jin
HJ
Kim
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-744, Republic of Korea.
Chan Woo
CW
Lee
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-744, Republic of Korea.
Hee Jo
HJ
Song
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-744, Republic of Korea.
Se Won
SW
Seo
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-744, Republic of Korea.
Hoon Kee
HK
Park
School of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 136-713, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: dwkim1@korea.ac.kr.
Dong-Wan
DW
Kim
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-744, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: kshongss@plaza.snu.ac.kr.
Kug Sun
KS
Hong
D000965:Antimony / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D004566:Electrodes; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000737:chemistry; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D010782:Photolysis; D013324:Strontium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D013472:Sunlight; D017971:Tin Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D004396:Coloring Agents; D010087:Oxides; D017971:Tin Compounds; C009495:titanium dioxide; D000965:Antimony; D014025:Titanium; C045358:stannic oxide; C119252:strontium titanium oxide; D008751:Methylene Blue; D013324:Strontium
Heterostructure; Photocatalytic; Photoelectrochemical; SrTiO(3); Water splitting