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Copper-surface-mediated synthesis of acetylenic carbon-rich nanofibers for active metal-free photocathodes

Author

Listed:
  • Tao Zhang

    (Dresden University of Technology)

  • Yang Hou

    (Dresden University of Technology
    Zhejiang University)

  • Volodymyr Dzhagan

    (Chemnitz University of Technology)

  • Zhongquan Liao

    (Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS))

  • Guoliang Chai

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS))

  • Markus Löffler

    (Dresden University of Technology)

  • Davide Olianas

    (Politecnico di Milano)

  • Alberto Milani

    (Politecnico di Milano)

  • Shunqi Xu

    (Dresden University of Technology)

  • Matteo Tommasini

    (Politecnico di Milano)

  • Dietrich R. T. Zahn

    (Chemnitz University of Technology)

  • Zhikun Zheng

    (Dresden University of Technology)

  • Ehrenfried Zschech

    (Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS)
    Dresden University of Technology)

  • Rainer Jordan

    (Dresden University of Technology)

  • Xinliang Feng

    (Dresden University of Technology)

Abstract

The engineering of acetylenic carbon-rich nanostructures has great potential in many applications, such as nanoelectronics, chemical sensors, energy storage, and conversion, etc. Here we show the synthesis of acetylenic carbon-rich nanofibers via copper-surface-mediated Glaser polycondensation of 1,3,5-triethynylbenzene on a variety of conducting (e.g., copper, graphite, fluorine-doped tin oxide, and titanium) and non-conducting (e.g., Kapton, glass, and silicon dioxide) substrates. The obtained nanofibers (with optical bandgap of 2.51 eV) exhibit photocatalytic activity in photoelectrochemical cells, yielding saturated cathodic photocurrent of ca. 10 µA cm−2 (0.3–0 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode). By incorporating thieno[3,2-b]thiophene units into the nanofibers, a redshift (ca. 100 nm) of light absorption edge and twofold of the photocurrent are achieved, rivalling those of state-of-the-art metal-free photocathodes (e.g., graphitic carbon nitride of 0.1–1 µA cm−2). This work highlights the promise of utilizing acetylenic carbon-rich materials as efficient and sustainable photocathodes for water reduction

Suggested Citation

  • Tao Zhang & Yang Hou & Volodymyr Dzhagan & Zhongquan Liao & Guoliang Chai & Markus Löffler & Davide Olianas & Alberto Milani & Shunqi Xu & Matteo Tommasini & Dietrich R. T. Zahn & Zhikun Zheng & Ehren, 2018. "Copper-surface-mediated synthesis of acetylenic carbon-rich nanofibers for active metal-free photocathodes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-03444-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03444-0
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    Cited by:

    1. Xue Zhou & Baihe Fu & Linjuan Li & Zheng Tian & Xiankui Xu & Zihao Wu & Jing Yang & Zhonghai Zhang, 2022. "Hydrogen-substituted graphdiyne encapsulated cuprous oxide photocathode for efficient and stable photoelectrochemical water reduction," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.

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