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Copper vacancy activated plasmonic Cu3-xSnS4 for highly efficient photocatalytic hydrogen generation: Broad solar absorption, efficient charge separation and decreased HER overpotential
Nano Research 2021, 14 (10): 3358-3364
Published: 09 June 2021
Downloads:47

Broad absorption spectra with efficient generation and separation of available charge carriers are indispensable requirements for promising semiconductor-based photocatalysts to achieve the ultimate goal of solar-to-fuel conversion. Here, Cu3-xSnS4 (x = 0-0.8) with copper vacancies have been prepared and fabricated via solvothermal process. The obtained copper vacancy materials have extended light absorption from ultraviolet to near-infrared-Ⅱ region for its significant plasmonic effects. Time-resolved photoluminescence shows that the vacancies can simultaneously optimize charge carrier dynamics to boost the generation of long-lived active electrons for photocatalytic reduction. Density functional theory calculations and electrochemical characterizations further revealed that copper vacancies in Cu3-xSnS4 tend to enhance hydrogen's adsorption energy with an obvious decrease in its H2 evolution reaction (HER) overpotential. Furthermore, without any loadings, the H2 production rate was measured to be 9.5 mmol·h-1·g-1. The apparent quantum yield was measured to be 27% for wavelength λ > 380 nm. The solar energy conversion efficiency was measured to be 6.5% under visible-near infrared (vis-NIR) (λ > 420 nm).

Open Access Research Article Issue
High power and stable P-doped yolk-shell structured Si@C anode simultaneously enhancing conductivity and Li+ diffusion kinetics
Nano Research 2021, 14 (4): 1004-1011
Published: 23 October 2020
Downloads:55

Silicon is a low price and high capacity anode material for lithium-ion batteries. The yolk-shell structure can effectively accommodate Si expansion to improve stability. However, the limited rate performance of Si anodes can't meet people's growing demand for high power density. Herein, the phosphorus-doped yolk-shell Si@C materials (P-doped Si@C) were prepared through carbon coating on P-doped Si/SiOx matrix to obtain high power and stable devices. Therefore, the as-prepared P-doped Si@C electrodes delivered a rapid increase in Coulombic efficiency from 74.4% to 99.6% after only 6 cycles, high capacity retention of ~ 95% over 800 cycles at 4 A·g−1, and great rate capability (510 mAh·g−1 at 35 A·g−1). As a result, P-doped Si@C anodes paired with commercial activated carbon and LiFePO4 cathode to assemble lithium-ion capacitor (high power density of ~ 61,080 W·kg−1 at 20 A·g−1) and lithium-ion full cell (good rate performance with 68.3 mAh·g−1 at 5 C), respectively. This work can provide an effective way to further improve power density and stability for energy storage devices.

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