title: Nature-Inspired Design of Artificial Solar-to-Fuel Conversion Systems based on Copper Phosphate Microflowers.
abstract: Phosphates play significant roles in plant photosynthesis by mediating electron transportation and furnishing energy for CO2 reduction. Motivated by this, we demonstrate herein an artificial solar-to-fuel conversion system, involving versatile copper phosphate microflowers as template and titanium dioxide nanoparticles as host photocatalyst. The elaborate flowerlike architectures, coupled with a unique proton-reduction cycle from interchangeability of different species of orthophosphate ions, not only offer a 2D nanosheet platform for an optimal heterostructure interface but also effectively augment charge-carrier transfer, thereby contributing to enhanced photoactivity and hydrogen generation. These nature-inspired, phosphate-derived nanocomposites advance the synthesis of a large variety of functional materials, which holds great potential for photochemical, photoelectric and catalytic applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 3, Singapore, 117583, Singapore.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8213-3725
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 3, Singapore, 117583, Singapore.
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 3, Singapore, 117583, Singapore. elehgw@nus.edu.sg.|Engineering Science Programme, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore, 117575, Singapore. elehgw@nus.edu.sg.|Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Singapore, 138634, Singapore. elehgw@nus.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Ghim Wei
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Ho
mesh_terms: D032701:Biomimetics / Q000379:methods*; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000737:chemistry; D055616:Microtechnology / Q000379:methods*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D010710:Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry*; D012993:Solar Energy; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D010710:Phosphates; C009495:titanium dioxide; D003300:Copper; D006859:Hydrogen; D014025:Titanium
keywords: hydrogen; nanocomposites; phosphates; photocatalysis; photosynthesis