IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v15y2024i1d10.1038_s41467-024-46073-6.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Liquid metal-embraced photoactive films for artificial photosynthesis

Author

Listed:
  • Chao Zhen

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Xiangtao Chen

    (Northeastern University)

  • Ruotian Chen

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Fengtao Fan

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Xiaoxiang Xu

    (Tongji University)

  • Yuyang Kang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Jingdong Guo

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Lianzhou Wang

    (The University of Queensland)

  • Gao Qing (Max) Lu

    (University of Surrey)

  • Kazunari Domen

    (Shinshu University
    The University of Tokyo)

  • Hui-Ming Cheng

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Gang Liu

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

Abstract

The practical applications of solar-driven water splitting pivot on significant advances that enable scalable production of robust photoactive films. Here, we propose a proof-of-concept for fabricating robust photoactive films by a particle-implanting technique (PiP) which embeds semiconductor photoabsorbers in the liquid metal. The strong semiconductor/metal interaction enables resulting films efficient collection of photogenerated charges and superior photoactivity. A photoanode of liquid-metal embraced BiVO4 can stably operate over 120 h and retain ~ 70% of activity when scaled from 1 to 64 cm2. Furthermore, a Z-scheme photocatalyst film of liquid-metal embraced BiVO4 and Rh-doped SrTiO3 particles can drive overall water splitting under visible light, delivering an activity 2.9 times higher than that of the control film with gold support and a 110 h stability. These results demonstrate the advantages of the PiP technique in constructing robust and efficient photoactive films for artificial photosynthesis.

Suggested Citation

  • Chao Zhen & Xiangtao Chen & Ruotian Chen & Fengtao Fan & Xiaoxiang Xu & Yuyang Kang & Jingdong Guo & Lianzhou Wang & Gao Qing (Max) Lu & Kazunari Domen & Hui-Ming Cheng & Gang Liu, 2024. "Liquid metal-embraced photoactive films for artificial photosynthesis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-46073-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46073-6
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-46073-6
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-024-46073-6?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Rengui Li & Fuxiang Zhang & Donge Wang & Jingxiu Yang & Mingrun Li & Jian Zhu & Xin Zhou & Hongxian Han & Can Li, 2013. "Spatial separation of photogenerated electrons and holes among {010} and {110} crystal facets of BiVO4," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 1-7, June.
    2. Hao Wu & Lei Zhang & Aijun Du & Rowshanak Irani & Roel Krol & Fatwa F. Abdi & Yun Hau Ng, 2022. "Low-bias photoelectrochemical water splitting via mediating trap states and small polaron hopping," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Jeiwan Tan & Byungjun Kang & Kyungmin Kim & Donyoung Kang & Hyungsoo Lee & Sunihl Ma & Gyumin Jang & Hyungsuk Lee & Jooho Moon, 2022. "Hydrogel protection strategy to stabilize water-splitting photoelectrodes," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 7(6), pages 537-547, June.
    4. Ji-Wook Jang & Chun Du & Yifan Ye & Yongjing Lin & Xiahui Yao & James Thorne & Erik Liu & Gregory McMahon & Junfa Zhu & Ali Javey & Jinghua Guo & Dunwei Wang, 2015. "Enabling unassisted solar water splitting by iron oxide and silicon," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-5, November.
    5. James L. Young & Myles A. Steiner & Henning Döscher & Ryan M. France & John A. Turner & Todd G. Deutsch, 2017. "Direct solar-to-hydrogen conversion via inverted metamorphic multi-junction semiconductor architectures," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 2(4), pages 1-8, April.
    6. Wei-Kean Chong & Boon-Junn Ng & Yong Jieh Lee & Lling-Lling Tan & Lutfi Kurnianditia Putri & Jingxiang Low & Abdul Rahman Mohamed & Siang-Piao Chai, 2023. "Self-activated superhydrophilic green ZnIn2S4 realizing solar-driven overall water splitting: close-to-unity stability for a full daytime," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    7. Hemin Zhang & Dongfeng Li & Woo Jin Byun & Xiuli Wang & Tae Joo Shin & Hu Young Jeong & Hongxian Han & Can Li & Jae Sung Lee, 2020. "Gradient tantalum-doped hematite homojunction photoanode improves both photocurrents and turn-on voltage for solar water splitting," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-11, December.
    8. Virgil Andrei & Geani M. Ucoski & Chanon Pornrungroj & Chawit Uswachoke & Qian Wang & Demetra S. Achilleos & Hatice Kasap & Katarzyna P. Sokol & Robert A. Jagt & Haijiao Lu & Takashi Lawson & Andreas , 2022. "Floating perovskite-BiVO4 devices for scalable solar fuel production," Nature, Nature, vol. 608(7923), pages 518-522, August.
    9. Ruotian Chen & Shan Pang & Hongyu An & Jian Zhu & Sheng Ye & Yuying Gao & Fengtao Fan & Can Li, 2018. "Charge separation via asymmetric illumination in photocatalytic Cu2O particles," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 3(8), pages 655-663, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Camilo A. Mesa & Michael Sachs & Ernest Pastor & Nicolas Gauriot & Alice J. Merryweather & Miguel A. Gomez-Gonzalez & Konstantin Ignatyev & Sixto Giménez & Akshay Rao & James R. Durrant & Raj Pandya, 2024. "Correlating activities and defects in (photo)electrocatalysts using in-situ multi-modal microscopic imaging," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Zhonghui Zhu & Matyas Daboczi & Minzhi Chen & Yimin Xuan & Xianglei Liu & Salvador Eslava, 2024. "Ultrastable halide perovskite CsPbBr3 photoanodes achieved with electrocatalytic glassy-carbon and boron-doped diamond sheets," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Austin M. K. Fehr & Ayush Agrawal & Faiz Mandani & Christian L. Conrad & Qi Jiang & So Yeon Park & Olivia Alley & Bor Li & Siraj Sidhik & Isaac Metcalf & Christopher Botello & James L. Young & Jacky E, 2023. "Integrated halide perovskite photoelectrochemical cells with solar-driven water-splitting efficiency of 20.8%," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    4. Rui-Ting Gao & Jiangwei Zhang & Tomohiko Nakajima & Jinlu He & Xianhu Liu & Xueyuan Zhang & Lei Wang & Limin Wu, 2023. "Single-atomic-site platinum steers photogenerated charge carrier lifetime of hematite nanoflakes for photoelectrochemical water splitting," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    5. Dhandole, Love Kumar & Anushkkaran, Periyasamy & Hwang, Jun Beom & Chae, Weon-Sik & Kumar, Manish & Lee, Hyun-Hwi & Choi, Sun Hee & Jang, Jum Suk & Lee, Jae Sung, 2022. "Microwave-assisted metal-ion attachment for ex-situ zirconium doping into hematite for enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 694-703.
    6. 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.
    7. Chenyang Xu & Hongxin Wang & Hongying Guo & Ke Liang & Yuanming Zhang & Weicong Li & Junze Chen & Jae Sung Lee & Hemin Zhang, 2024. "Parallel multi-stacked photoanodes of Sb-doped p–n homojunction hematite with near-theoretical solar conversion efficiency," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    8. Xidong Zhang & Duoduo Gao & Bicheng Zhu & Bei Cheng & Jiaguo Yu & Huogen Yu, 2024. "Enhancing photocatalytic H2O2 production with Au co-catalysts through electronic structure modification," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    9. Yong Liu & Mingjian Zhang & Zhuan Wang & Jiandong He & Jie Zhang & Sheng Ye & Xiuli Wang & Dongfeng Li & Heng Yin & Qianhong Zhu & Huanwang Jing & Yuxiang Weng & Feng Pan & Ruotian Chen & Can Li & Fen, 2022. "Bipolar charge collecting structure enables overall water splitting on ferroelectric photocatalysts," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.
    10. Isaac Holmes-Gentle & Saurabh Tembhurne & Clemens Suter & Sophia Haussener, 2023. "Kilowatt-scale solar hydrogen production system using a concentrated integrated photoelectrochemical device," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 8(6), pages 586-596, June.
    11. Chunzhi Li & Jiali Liu & He Li & Kaifeng Wu & Junhui Wang & Qihua Yang, 2022. "Covalent organic frameworks with high quantum efficiency in sacrificial photocatalytic hydrogen evolution," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    12. Ma, Ben-Chi & Lin, Hua & Zhu, Yizhou & Zeng, Zilong & Geng, Jiafeng & Jing, Dengwei, 2022. "A new Concentrated Photovoltaic Thermal-Hydrogen system with photocatalyst suspension as optical liquid filter," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 194(C), pages 1221-1232.
    13. Xin Wang & Boyan Liu & Siqing Ma & Yingjuan Zhang & Lianzhou Wang & Gangqiang Zhu & Wei Huang & Songcan Wang, 2024. "Induced dipole moments in amorphous ZnCdS catalysts facilitate photocatalytic H2 evolution," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    14. Hamdani, I.R. & Bhaskarwar, A.N., 2021. "Recent progress in material selection and device designs for photoelectrochemical water-splitting," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    15. Baroutaji, Ahmad & Wilberforce, Tabbi & Ramadan, Mohamad & Olabi, Abdul Ghani, 2019. "Comprehensive investigation on hydrogen and fuel cell technology in the aviation and aerospace sectors," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 31-40.
    16. Ma, Zhiwen & Davenport, Patrick & Saur, Genevieve, 2022. "System and technoeconomic analysis of solar thermochemical hydrogen production," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 294-308.
    17. Biswas, Neeraj Kumar & Srivastav, Anupam & Saxena, Sakshi & Verma, Anuradha & Dutta, Runjhun & Srivastava, Manju & Upadhyay, Sumant & Satsangi, Vibha Rani & Shrivastav, Rohit & Dass, Sahab, 2023. "Temperature of photoanode for photoelectrochemical water oxidation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 504-511.
    18. Stephanie J. Boyd & Run Long & Niall J. English, 2022. "Electric Field Effects on Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting: Perspectives and Outlook," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-16, February.
    19. Changhao Liu & Ningsi Zhang & Yang Li & Rongli Fan & Wenjing Wang & Jianyong Feng & Chen Liu & Jiaou Wang & Weichang Hao & Zhaosheng Li & Zhigang Zou, 2023. "Long-term durability of metastable β-Fe2O3 photoanodes in highly corrosive seawater," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-8, December.
    20. Yannan Liu & Cheng-Hao Liu & Tushar Debnath & Yong Wang & Darius Pohl & Lucas V. Besteiro & Debora Motta Meira & Shengyun Huang & Fan Yang & Bernd Rellinghaus & Mohamed Chaker & Dmytro F. Perepichka &, 2023. "Silver nanoparticle enhanced metal-organic matrix with interface-engineering for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-46073-6. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.