Twin boundary defect engineering in Au cocatalyst to promote alcohol splitting for coproduction of H₂ and fine chemicals

Li, Mengqing; Van der Veer, Mathias; Yang, Xuhui; Weng, Bo; Shen, Lijuan; Huang, Haowei; Dong, Xiongbo; Wang, Guanhua; Roeffaers, Maarten B. J.; Yang, Min-Quan

doi:10.1016/J.JCIS.2023.11.171

Title

Twin boundary defect engineering in Au cocatalyst to promote alcohol splitting for coproduction of H₂ and fine chemicals

Author

Li, Mengqing

Van der Veer, Mathias

Yang, Xuhui

Weng, Bo

Shen, Lijuan

Huang, Haowei

Dong, Xiongbo

Wang, Guanhua

Roeffaers, Maarten B. J.

Yang, Min-Quan

Abstract

The microstructure of Au metal cocatalyst has been shown to significantly influence its optical and electronic properties. However, the impact of Au defect engineering on photocatalytic activity remains underexplored. In this study, we synthesize different Au-TiO2 composites by in-situ hybridizing face-centered cubic (F-Au) and twin boundary defect Au (T-Au) nanoparticles (NPs) onto the surface of TiO2. We find that T-Au NPs with twin defects serve as highly efficient cocatalysts for converting alcohols into their corresponding aldehydes while also generating H2. The optimized T-Au/TiO2 composite yields an H2 evolution rate of 6850 mu mol h-1 g- 1 and a BAD formation rate of 6830 mu mol h-1 g- 1, about 38 times higher than that of blank TiO2. Compared to F-Au/TiO2, the T-Au/TiO2 composite enhances charge separation, extends the lifetime of electrons, and provides more active sites for H2 reduction. The twin defect also improves alcohol reactant adsorption, boosting overall photocatalytic performance. This research paves the way for more studies on defect engineering in metal cocatalysts for enhanced catalytic activities in organic synthesis and H2 evolution.

Language

English

Source (journal)

Journal of colloid and interface science. - New York, N.Y., 1966, currens

Publication

New York, N.Y. : 2024

ISSN

0021-9797 [print]

1095-7103 [online]

DOI

10.1016/J.JCIS.2023.11.171

Volume/pages