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Lattice distortion induced internal electric field in TiO2 photoelectrode for efficient charge separation and transfer

Author

Listed:
  • Yuxiang Hu

    (The University of Queensland)

  • Yuanyuan Pan

    (China University of Petroleum (East China))

  • Zhiliang Wang

    (The University of Queensland)

  • Tongen Lin

    (The University of Queensland)

  • Yuying Gao

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Bin Luo

    (The University of Queensland)

  • Han Hu

    (China University of Petroleum (East China))

  • Fengtao Fan

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Gang Liu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Lianzhou Wang

    (The University of Queensland)

Abstract

Providing sufficient driving force for charge separation and transfer (CST) is a critical issue in photoelectrochemical (PEC) energy conversion. Normally, the driving force is derived mainly from band bending at the photoelectrode/electrolyte interface but negligible in the bulk. To boost the bulky driving force, we report a rational strategy to create effective electric field via controllable lattice distortion in the bulk of a semiconductor film. This concept is verified by the lithiation of a classic TiO2 (Li-TiO2) photoelectrode, which leads to significant distortion of the TiO6 unit cells in the bulk with well-aligned dipole moment. A remarkable internal built-in electric field of ~2.1 × 102 V m−1 throughout the Li-TiO2 film is created to provide strong driving force for bulky CST. The photoelectrode demonstrates an over 750% improvement of photocurrent density and 100 mV negative shift of onset potential upon the lithiation compared to that of pristine TiO2 film.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuxiang Hu & Yuanyuan Pan & Zhiliang Wang & Tongen Lin & Yuying Gao & Bin Luo & Han Hu & Fengtao Fan & Gang Liu & Lianzhou Wang, 2020. "Lattice distortion induced internal electric field in TiO2 photoelectrode for efficient charge separation and transfer," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-15993-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15993-4
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    Cited by:

    1. Cai, Jiajia & Liu, Cunxing & Tang, Xiangxuan & Kong, Lingna & Yu, Feiyang & Wang, Jianmin & Xie, Qian & Li, Haijin & Li, Song, 2022. "Understanding the effect of interface on the charge separation in Bi2S3@Sn: α-Fe2O3 heterojunction for photoelectrochemical water oxidation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 191(C), pages 195-203.
    2. Wei Qin & Wajid Ali & Jianfeng Wang & Yong Liu & Xiaolan Yan & Pengfei Zhang & Zhaochi Feng & Hao Tian & Yanfeng Yin & Wenming Tian & Can Li, 2023. "Suppressing non-radiative recombination in metal halide perovskite solar cells by synergistic effect of ferroelasticity," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Guangri Jia & Fusai Sun & Tao Zhou & Ying Wang & Xiaoqiang Cui & Zhengxiao Guo & Fengtao Fan & Jimmy C. Yu, 2024. "Charge redistribution of a spatially differentiated ferroelectric Bi4Ti3O12 single crystal for photocatalytic overall water splitting," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.

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