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Journal of Advanced Ceramics 2021, 10(5): 1025-1041 https://doi.org/10.1007/s40145-021-0486-x
Research Article | Open Access | Issue | Published: 18 September 2021

Electronic structure and enhanced photoelectrocatalytic performance of RuxZn1-xO/Ti electrodes

Show Author's Information Yanqun SHAOa,b( ),  Keke FENGa,  Jie GUOa,  Rongrong ZHANGa,  Sijiang HEa,  Xinli WEIa,  Yuting LINa,  Zhanghao YEa,  Kongfa CHENa
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
College of Zhicheng, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Keywords:
first-principles calculation, RuxZn1-xO/Ti electrode, electric collector, photoelectric synergistic catalysis
Cite this article:
SHAO Y, FENG K, GUO J, et al. Electronic structure and enhanced photoelectrocatalytic performance of RuxZn1-xO/Ti electrodes. Journal of Advanced Ceramics, 2021, 10(5): 1025-1041. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40145-021-0486-x
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Abstract Full text About this article

Modification is one of the most important and effective methods to improve the photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) performance of ZnO. In this paper, the RuxZn1-xO/Ti electrodes were prepared by thermal decomposition method and the effect of Ru content on those electrodes’ electronic structure was analyzed through the first-principles calculation. Various tests were also performed to observe the microstructures and PEC performance. The results showed that as the Ru4+ transferred into ZnO lattice and replaced a number of Zn2+, the conduction band of ZnO moved downward and the valence band went upward. The number of photogenerated electron-hole pairs increased as the impurity levels appeared in the band gap. In addition, ZnO nanorods exhibited a smaller grain size and a rougher surface under the effect of Ru. Meanwhile, the RuO2 nanoparticles on the surface of ZnO nanorods acted as the electron-transfer channel, helping electrons transfer to the counter electrode and delaying the recombination of the electron-hole pairs. Specifically, the RuxZn1-xO/Ti electrodes with 9.375 mol% Ru exhibited the best PEC performance with a rhodamine B (RhB) removal rate of 97%, much higher than the combination of electrocatalysis (EC, 12%) and photocatalysis (PC, 50%), confirming the synergy of photoelectrocatalysis.


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About this article

Electronic structure and enhanced photoelectrocatalytic performance of RuxZn1-xO/Ti electrodes

Show Author's information Yanqun SHAOa,b( ), Keke FENGa, Jie GUOa, Rongrong ZHANGa, Sijiang HEa, Xinli WEIa, Yuting LINa, Zhanghao YEa, Kongfa CHENa
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
College of Zhicheng, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350002, China

Abstract

Modification is one of the most important and effective methods to improve the photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) performance of ZnO. In this paper, the RuxZn1-xO/Ti electrodes were prepared by thermal decomposition method and the effect of Ru content on those electrodes’ electronic structure was analyzed through the first-principles calculation. Various tests were also performed to observe the microstructures and PEC performance. The results showed that as the Ru4+ transferred into ZnO lattice and replaced a number of Zn2+, the conduction band of ZnO moved downward and the valence band went upward. The number of photogenerated electron-hole pairs increased as the impurity levels appeared in the band gap. In addition, ZnO nanorods exhibited a smaller grain size and a rougher surface under the effect of Ru. Meanwhile, the RuO2 nanoparticles on the surface of ZnO nanorods acted as the electron-transfer channel, helping electrons transfer to the counter electrode and delaying the recombination of the electron-hole pairs. Specifically, the RuxZn1-xO/Ti electrodes with 9.375 mol% Ru exhibited the best PEC performance with a rhodamine B (RhB) removal rate of 97%, much higher than the combination of electrocatalysis (EC, 12%) and photocatalysis (PC, 50%), confirming the synergy of photoelectrocatalysis.

Keywords: first-principles calculation, RuxZn1-xO/Ti electrode, electric collector, photoelectric synergistic catalysis

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Publication history

Received: 04 January 2021
Revised: 16 April 2021
Accepted: 17 April 2021
Published: 18 September 2021
Issue date: October 2021

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© The Author(s) 2021

Acknowledgements

The work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (83418083) and the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province (2019J01230).

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