Visible light responsive photocatalysts developed by substitution with metal cations aiming at artificial photosynthesis

Abstract

To solve resource, energy, and environmental issues, development of sustainable clean energy system is strongly required. In recent years, hydrogen has been paid much attention to as a clean energy. Solar hydrogen production by water splitting using a photocatalyst as artificial photosynthesis is a promising method to solve these issues. Efficient utilization of visible light comprised of solar light is essential for practical use. Three strategies, i.e., doping, control of valence band, and formation of solid solution are often utilized as the useful methods to develop visible light responsive photocatalysts. This mini-review introduces the recent work on visible-light-driven photocatalysts developed by substitution with metal cations of those strategies.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

visible light responsive photocatalyst / water splitting / artificial photosynthesis: metal ion substitution

References

[1] Kudo A, Kato H, Tsuji I. Strategies for the development of visible-light-driven photocatalysts for water splitting. ChemInform, 2004, 33(12): 1534–1539

[2] Kudo A, Miseki Y. Heterogeneous photocatalyst materials for water splitting. Chemical Society Reviews, 2009, 38(1): 253–278

[3] Kudo A, Omori K, Kato H. A novel aqueous process for preparation of crystal form-controlled and highly crystalline BiVO₄ powder from layered vanadates at room temperature and its photocatalytic and photophysical properties. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 1999, 121(49): 11459–11467

[4] Shimodaira Y, Kato H, Kobayashi H, Investigations of electronic structures and photocatalytic activities under visible light irradiation of lead molybdate replaced with chromium(VI). Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Japan, 2007, 80(5): 885–893

[5] Hosogi Y, Shimodaira Y, Kato H, Role of Sn²⁺ in the band structure of SnM₂O₆ and Sn₂M₂O₇ (M= Nb and Ta) and their photocatalytic properties. Chemistry of Materials, 2008, 20(4): 1299–1307

[6] Kato H, Kobayashi H, Kudo A. Role of Ag⁺ in the band structures and photocatalytic properties of AgMO₃ (M: Ta and Nb) with the perovskite structure. Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2002, 106(48): 12441–12447

[7] Joshi U A, Palasyuk A M, Maggard P A. Photoelectrochemical investigation and electronic structure of a p-type CuNbO₃ photocathode. Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2011, 115(27): 13534–13539

[8] Maeda K, Domen K. New non-oxide photocatalysts designed for overall water splitting under visible light. Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2007, 111(22): 7851–7861

[9] Hitoki G, Takata T, Kondo J N, An oxynitride, TaON, as an efficient water oxidation photocatalyst under visible light irradiation (λ≤500 nm). Chemical Communications (Cambridge), 2002, (16): 1698–1699

[10] Hara M, Hitoki G, Takata T, TaON and Ta₃N₅ as new visible light driven photocatalysts. Catalysis Today, 2003, 78(1–4): 555–560

[11] Wang X, Maeda K, Thomas A, A metal-free polymeric photocatalyst for hydrogen production from water under visible light. Nature Materials, 2009, 8(1): 76–80

[12] Wen J, Xie J, Chen X, A review on g-C₃N₄-based photocatalysts. Applied Surface Science, 2017, 391: 72–123

[13] Ishikawa A, Takata T, Kondo J N, Oxysulfide Sm₂Ti₂S₂O₅ as a stable photocatalyst for water oxidation and reduction under visible light irradiation (λ≤650 nm). Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2002, 124(45): 13547–13553

[14] Wang Q, Nakabayashi M, Hisatomi T, Oxysulfide photocatalyst for visible-light-driven overall water splitting. Nature Materials, 2019, 18(8): 827–832

[15] Moriya M, Minegishi T, Kumagai H, Stable hydrogen evolution from CdS-modified CuGaSe₂ photoelectrode under visible-light irradiation. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2013, 135(10): 3733–3735

[16] Tsuji I, Kato H, Kudo A. Visible-light-induced H₂ evolution from an aqueous solution containing sulfide and sulfite over a ZnS-CuInS₂-AgInS₂ solid-solution photocatalyst. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2005, 44(23): 3565–3568

[17] Kajiwara T, Hashimoto K, Kawai T, Dynamics of luminescence from Ru(bpy)₃Cl₂ adsorbed on semiconductor surfaces. Journal of Physical Chemistry, 1982, 86(23): 4516–4522

[18] Abe R, Hara K, Sayama K, Steady hydrogen evolution from water on Eosin Y-fixed TiO₂ photocatalyst using a silane-coupling reagent under visible light irradiation. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A Chemistry, 2000, 137(1): 63–69

[19] Maeda K, Eguchi M, Lee S H A, Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from hexaniobate nanoscrolls and calcium niobate nanosheets sensitized by ruthenium(II) bipyridyl complexes. Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2009, 113(18): 7962–7969

[20] Niishiro R, Kato H, Kudo A. Nickel and either tantalum or niobium-codoped TiO₂ and SrTiO₃ photocatalysts with visible-light response for H₂ or O₂ evolution from aqueous solutions. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 2005, 7(10): 2241–2245

[21] Kato H, Kudo A. Visible-light-response and photocatalytic activities of TiO₂ and SrTiO₃ photocatalysts codoped with antimony and chromium. Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2002, 106(19): 5029–5034

[22] Konta R, Ishii T, Kato H, Photocatalytic activities of noble metal ion doped SrTiO₃ under visible light irradiation. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2004, 108(26): 8992–8995

[23] Niishiro R, Konta R, Kato H, Photocatalytic O₂ evolution of rhodium and antimony-codoped rutile-type TiO₂ under visible light irradiation. Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2007, 111(46): 17420–17426

[24] Kato H, Hori M, Konta R, Construction of Z-scheme type heterogeneous photocatalysis systems for water splitting into H₂ and O₂ under visible light irradiation. Chemistry Letters, 2004, 33(10): 1348–1349

[25] Sasaki Y, Kato H, Kudo A. Co(bpy)₃]^3+/2+ and [co(phen)₃]^3+/2+ electron mediators for overall water splitting under sunlight irradiation using Z-scheme photocatalyst system. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2013, 135(14): 5441–5449

[26] Jia Q, Iwase A, Kudo A. BiVO₄–Ru/SrTiO₃: Rh composite Z-scheme photocatalyst for solar water splitting. Chemical Science (Cambridge), 2014, 5(4): 1513

[27] Iwashina K, Kudo A. Rh-doped SrTiO₃ photocatalyst electrode showing cathodic photocurrent for water splitting under visible-light irradiation. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2011, 133(34): 13272–13275

[28] Jia Q, Iwashina K, Kudo A. Facile fabrication of an efficient BiVO₄ thin film electrode for water splitting under visible light irradiation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2012, 109(29): 11564–11569

[29] Yamaguchi Y, Usuki S, Kanai Y, Selective inactivation of bacteriophage in the presence of bacteria by use of ground Rh-doped SrTiO₃ photocatalyst and visible light. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2017, 9(37): 31393–31400

[30] Niishiro R, Tanaka S, Kudo A. Hydrothermal-synthesized SrTiO₃ photocatalyst codoped with rhodium and antimony with visible-light response for sacrificial H₂ and O₂ evolution and application to overall water splitting. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 2014, 150–151: 187–196

[31] Asai R, Nemoto H, Jia Q, A visible light responsive rhodium and antimony-codoped SrTiO₃ powdered photocatalyst loaded with an IrO₂ cocatalyst for solar water splitting. Chemical Communications: Cambridge, England, 2014, 50(19): 2543–2546

[32] Lyu H, Hisatomi T, Goto Y, An Al-doped SrTiO₃ photocatalyst maintaining sunlight-driven overall water splitting activity for over 1000 h of constant illumination. Chemical Science (Cambridge), 2019, 10(11): 3196–3201

[33] Takata T, Jiang J, Sakata Y, Photocatalytic water splitting with a quantum efficiency of almost unity. Nature, 2020, 581(7809): 411–414

[34] Watanabe K, Iwase A, Kudo A. Solar water splitting over Rh_0.5Cr_1.5O₃-loaded AgTaO₃ of a valence-band-controlled metal oxide photocatalyst. Chemical Science (Cambridge), 2020, 11(9): 2330–2334

[35] Watanabe K, Iikubo Y, Yamaguchi Y, Highly crystalline Na_0.5Bi_0.5TiO₃ of a photocatalyst valence-band-controlled with Bi(III) for solar water splitting. Chemical Communications, 2021, 57(3): 323–326

[36] Suzuki S, Matsumoto H, Iwase A, Enhanced H₂ evolution over an Ir-doped SrTiO₃ photocatalyst by loading of an Ir cocatalyst using visible light up to 800 nm. Chemical Communications: Cambridge, England, 2018, 54(75): 10606–10609

[37] Iwase A, Saito K, Kudo A. Sensitization of NaMO₃ (M: Nb and Ta) photocatalysts with wide band gaps to visible light by Ir doping. Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Japan, 2009, 82(4): 514–518

[38] Iwase A, Kudo A. Development of Ir and La-codoped BaTa₂O₆ photocatalysts using visible light up to 640 nm as an H₂-evolving photocatalyst for Z-schematic water splitting. Chemical Communications: Cambridge, England, 2017, 53(45): 6156–6159

[39] Suzuki S, Iwase A, Kudo A. Long wavelength visible light-responsive SrTiO₃ photocatalysts doped with valence-controlled Ru for sacrificial H₂ and O₂ evolution. Catalysis Science & Technology, 2020, 10(15): 4912–4916

[40] Kudo A, Ueda K, Kato H, Photocatalytic O₂ evolution under visible light irradiation on BiVO₄ in aqueous AgNO₃ solution. Catalysis Letters, 1998, 53(3/4): 229–230

[41] Tokunaga S, Kato H, Kudo A. Selective preparation of monoclinic and tetragonal BiVO₄ with scheelite structure and their photocatalytic properties. Chemistry of Materials, 2001, 13(12): 4624–4628

[42] Hosogi Y, Tanabe K, Kato H, Energy structure and photocatalytic activity of niobates and tantalates containing Sn(II) with a 5s² electron configuration. Chemistry Letters, 2004, 33(1): 28–29

[43] Konta R, Kato H, Kobayashi H, Photophysical properties and photocatalytic activities under visible light irradiation of silver vanadates. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 2003, 5(14): 3061

[44] Boltersdorf J, Maggard P A. Silver exchange of layered metal oxides and their photocatalytic activities. ACS Catalysis, 2013, 3(11): 2547–2555

[45] Horie H, Iwase A, Kudo A. Photocatalytic properties of layered metal oxides substituted with silver by a molten AgNO₃ treatment. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2015, 7(27): 14638–14643

[46] Watanabe K, Iwashina K, Iwase A, New visible-light-driven H₂^– and O₂^– evolving photocatalysts developed by Ag(I) and Cu(I) ion exchange of various layered and tunneling metal oxides using molten salts treatments. Chemistry of Materials, 2020, 32(24): 10524–10537

[47] Kato H, Fujisawa T, Kobayashi M, Discovery of novel delafossite-type compounds composed of copper(I) lithium titanium with photocatalytic activity for H₂ evolution under visible light. Chemistry Letters, 2015, 44(7): 973–975

[48] Iwashina K, Iwase A, Nozawa S, Visible-light-responsive CuLi_1/3Ti_2/3O₂ powders prepared by a molten CuCl treatment of Li₂TiO₃ for photocatalytic H₂ evolution and Z-schematic water splitting. Chemistry of Materials, 2016, 28(13): 4677–4685

[49] Iwashina K, Iwase A, Kudo A. Sensitization of wide band gap photocatalysts to visible light by molten CuCl treatment. Chemical Science (Cambridge), 2015, 6(1): 687–692

[50] Kaga H, Tsutsui Y, Nagane A, An effect of Ag(I)-substitution at Cu sites in CuGaS₂ on photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical properties for solar hydrogen evolution. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, Materials for Energy and Sustainability, 2015, 3(43): 21815–21823

[51] Kato T, Hakari Y, Ikeda S, Utilization of metal sulfide material of (CuGa)_1–xZn_2xS₂ solid solution with visible light response in photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical solar water splitting systems. Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 2015, 6(6): 1042–1047

[52] Hayashi T, Niishiro R, Ishihara H, et al. Powder-based (CuGa_1–yIn_y)_1–xZn_2xS₂ solid solution photocathodes with a largely positive onset potential for solar water splitting. Sustainable Energy & Fuels, 2018, 2(9): 2016–2024

[53] Ikeda S, Aono N, Iwase A, Cu₃MS₄ (M= V, Nb, Ta) and its solid solutions with sulvanite structure for photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical H₂ evolution under visible-light irradiation. ChemSusChem, 2019, 12(9): 1977–1983

[54] Takayama T, Tsuji I, Aono N, Development of various metal sulfide photocatalysts consisting of d⁰, d⁵, and d¹⁰ metal ions for sacrificial H₂ evolution under visible light irradiation. Chemistry Letters, 2017, 46(4): 616–619

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Higher Education Press