Charge redistribution of a spatially differentiated ferroelectric Bi4Ti3O12 single crystal for photocatalytic overall water splitting
Guangri Jia, Fusai Sun, Tao Zhou, Ying Wang, Xiaoqiang Cui, Zhengxiao Guo, Fengtao Fan, Jimmy C. Yu
Abstract
Abstract Artificial photosynthesis is a promising approach to produce clean fuels via renewable solar energy. However, it is practically constrained by two issues of slow photogenerated carrier migration and rapid electron/hole recombination. It is also a challenge to achieve a 2:1 ratio of H 2 and O 2 for overall water splitting. Here we report a rational design of spatially differentiated two-dimensional Bi 4 Ti 3 O 12 nanosheets to enhance overall water splitting. Such a spatially differentiated structure overcomes the limitation of charge transfer across different crystal planes in a single crystal semiconductor. The experimental results show a redistribution of charge within a crystal plane. The resulting photocatalyst produces 40.3 μmol h –1 of hydrogen and 20.1 μmol h –1 of oxygen at a near stoichiometric ratio of 2:1 and a solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 0.1% under simulated solar light.