Highly efficient full solar spectrum (UV-vis-NIR) photocatalytic performance of Ag2S quantum dot/TiO2 nanobelt heterostructures

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jiec.2016.09.022
• Publication Date: 2016-09-17T22:46:45Z
• Authors: Xiaolin Hu; Yuanyuan Li; Jian Tian; Hongru Yang; Hongzhi Cui
• Keywords: 02 engineering and technology; 0210 nano-technology; 7. Clean energy

Abstract Finding a photocatalyst that can utilize the full solar spectrum is paramount importance in photocatalysis. Assembling TiO2 with a narrow bandgap semiconductor to form a heterostructure which can harvest the light from UV to near-infrared (NIR) region would be ideal for photocatalysis. Here, we report the synthesis of Ag2S quantum dots (QDs)/TiO2 nanobelt heterostructures to display the UV-visible-NIR full spectrum photocatalytic property. The enhanced photocatalytic performance is ascribed to the efficient charge separation properties of the heterostructure formed by intimate contact between Ag2S and TiO2, and efficient visible and NIR harvesting of Ag2S QDs on the surface of TiO2 nanobelts.