title: A full compositional range for a (Ga1-x Zn x )(N1-x O x ) nanostructure: high efficiency for overall water splitting and optical properties.
abstract: Bulk (Ga1-x Zn x )(N1-x O x ) as a photocatalyst has received increasing attention as a potential solution for the energy shortage challenge; however, its catalytic performance is highly limited by its bulk form. To improve the photochemical potential, the nanoscale form of this multiple-metal oxynitrides is desirable. In this work, a new type of (Ga1-x Zn x )(N1-x O x ) nanostructure is obtained. Its composition can tuned to the full range (0.18 < x < 0.95). The (Ga1-x Zn x )(N1-x O x ) nanostructure exhibits excellent photocatalytic activity for overall water splitting, and the highest quantum efficiency of (Ga1-x Zn x )(N1-x O x ) is as high as 17.3% under visible light irradiation. Using this new type of (Ga1-x Zn x )(N1-x O x ) nanostructure, the narrowing of the bandgap for (Ga1-x Zn x )(N1-x O x ) is not only due to an increase in the valence band maximum, but it is also related to a decrease in the conduction band minimum.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Silicon Materials, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, P.R. China; Cyrus Tang Center for Sensor Materials and Applications, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yaguang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Liping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Yefeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Zirui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.forename: Yanmin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Zhizhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ye
keywords: gallium; nanospheres; nanostructures; photocatalysts; structure-property relationships; zinc