Study of Self-Sensitization of Wide-Gap Oxides Photocatalysts

Abstract

The self-sensitization of wide-gap oxide photocatalysts to the region beyond the long-wave edge by changing the stoichiometry is discussed. The results of in situ investigations in three phases: gas—adsorbate—surface obtained by a variety of complementary experimental methods are analyzed. Dielectrics (MgO, Al₂O₃, BeO) were sensitized by creating colored F- and V- type photocatalysis centers via the thermal reduction of oxides in a vacuum. For semiconductors, the 2D structures of ZnO/ZnO1−x and TiO₂/TiO_2−x were formed through surface photo-reduction. In all self-sensitization cases, enhanced photosorption activity was observed. The quantum yields in the model POIE (photo-induced oxygen isotope exchange) redox reaction under VIS illumination of 2D structures and resonant exciton illumination of a layered 2D structure ZnO/ZnO_1−x/O⁻ are 5–7 times higher than those of the initial samples. Both 2D structures showed stable activity in the redox reaction $\text{CO+NO}\xrightarrow{\text{hv}}\text{1/2}{{\text{N}}_{2}}\uparrow +\text{C}{{\text{O}}_{\text{2ads}}}$ ​ with quantum yields 5–7 times higher than those of the initial oxides in their intrinsic absorption region.

Keywords

Oxide photocatalysts / Self-sensitization / Active centers / 2D heterostructures / Exciton / POIE / Photocatalytic reaction / TOF

Acknowledgments

The author is grateful to the co-authors of the cited works.

Ethics Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

Data is available on request.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Declaration of Competing Interest

The author declares that he has no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

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