English

Controlling Self-Assembly of 3D In₂O₃ Nanostructures for Boosting Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production

• Chen Ruijie ^1, ,
• Li Di ^2, ,
• Fang Zhenyuan ^1, ,
• Huang Yuanyong ^1, ,
• Luo Bifu ^1, ,
• Shi Weidong ^{1, ,}

• 1.

  School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, Jiangsu Province, P. R. China

• 2.

  Institute for Energy Research, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, Jiangsu Province, P. R. China

Corresponding author: Shi Weidong, swd1978@ujs.edu.cn

• Received Date: 20 March 2019
  Accepted Date: 06 May 2019
  Revised Date: 06 May 2019
  Available Online: 15 March 2020
• Fund Project:

  the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21878129, 21522603, 21477050)

Abstract: Exploring economical and efficient photocatalysts for hydrogen production is of great significance for alleviating the energy and environmental crisis. In this study, 3D In₂O₃ nanostructures with appropriate self-assembly degrees were obtained using a facile hydrothermal strategy. To study the significance of 3D In₂O₃ nanostructures with appropriate self-assembly degrees in photocatalytic hydrogen production, the photocatalytic performances of samples were evaluated based on the amount of hydrogen gas release under visible-light irradiation (λ > 400 nm) and simulated solar light illumination. Interestingly, the 3D In₂O₃-150 nanostructured photocatalyst (hydrothermal temperature was 150 ℃, denoted as In₂O₃-150) exhibited extremely superior photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity, which may have been caused by their unique structure to improve light reflection and gas evolution. The special structure can enhance light harvesting and induce more carriers to participate in photocatalytic hydrogen production. Despite possessing similar 3D nanostructures, the In₂O₃-180 photocatalyst exhibited poor photocatalytic activity. This may have been caused by the high self-assembly degree, which can hinder light irradiation and isolate a portion of the water. In addition, the 3D nanostructures could effectively make uniform the carrier migration direction, which is from the interior to the rod end. However, the direction of carrier migration of the In₂O₃-110 photocatalyst could transfer in various directions, whereas the In₂O₃-130 photocatalyst could transfer to both ends of the rod. This might cause partial migration to counteract each other. The compact cluster rod-like structure of In₂O₃-180 might prevent the light from exciting the carrier effectively. Through a photocatalytic recycling test, the 3D In₂O₃-150 nanostructured photocatalyst exhibited outstanding photochemical stability. This work highlights the importance of controlling the self-assembly degree of 3D In₂O₃ nanostructures and explores the performances of 3D In₂O₃ nanostructured photocatalysts in hydrogen production under visible light and simulated solar light.

Key words:
• In₂O₃
•  /  3D nanostructures
•  /  Self-assembly
•  /  Photocatalytic activity
•  /  Hydrogen production

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