TY - JOUR
T1 - High throughput preparation of metal oxide nanocrystals by cathodic corrosion and their use as active photocatalysts
AU - Kromer, Matthew
AU - Monzo Gimenez, Francisco Javier
AU - Lawrence, Matthew
AU - Kolodziej, Adam
AU - Gossage, Zachari
AU - Simpson, Burton
AU - Morandi, Sara
AU - Yanson, Alex
AU - Rodriguez-Lopez, Joaquin
AU - Rodriguez, Paramaconi
PY - 2017/10/31
Y1 - 2017/10/31
N2 - Nanoparticle metal oxide photocatalysts are attractive due to their increased reactivity and ease of processing into versatile electrode formats; however, their preparation is cumbersome. We report on the rapid bulk synthesis of photocatalytic nanoparticles with homogeneous shape and size via the cathodic corrosion method, a simple electrochemical approach applied for the first time to the versatile preparation of complex metal oxides. Nanoparticles consisting of tungsten oxide (H2WO4) nanoplates, titanium oxide (TiO2) nanowires, and symmetric star-shaped bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) were prepared conveniently using tungsten, titanium, and vanadium wires as a starting material. Each of the particles were extremely rapid to produce, taking only 2-3 minutes to etch 2.5 mm of metal wire into a colloidal dispersion of photoactive materials. All crystalline H2WO4 and BiVO4 particles and amorphous TiO2 were photoelectrochemically active towards the water oxidation reaction. Additionally, the BiVO4 particles showed enhanced photocurrent in the visible region towards the oxidation of a sacrificial sulfite reagent. This synthetic method provides an inexpensive alternative to conventional fabrication techniques and is potentially applicable to a wide variety of metal oxides, making the rapid fabrication of active photocatalysts with controlled crystallinity more efficient.
AB - Nanoparticle metal oxide photocatalysts are attractive due to their increased reactivity and ease of processing into versatile electrode formats; however, their preparation is cumbersome. We report on the rapid bulk synthesis of photocatalytic nanoparticles with homogeneous shape and size via the cathodic corrosion method, a simple electrochemical approach applied for the first time to the versatile preparation of complex metal oxides. Nanoparticles consisting of tungsten oxide (H2WO4) nanoplates, titanium oxide (TiO2) nanowires, and symmetric star-shaped bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) were prepared conveniently using tungsten, titanium, and vanadium wires as a starting material. Each of the particles were extremely rapid to produce, taking only 2-3 minutes to etch 2.5 mm of metal wire into a colloidal dispersion of photoactive materials. All crystalline H2WO4 and BiVO4 particles and amorphous TiO2 were photoelectrochemically active towards the water oxidation reaction. Additionally, the BiVO4 particles showed enhanced photocurrent in the visible region towards the oxidation of a sacrificial sulfite reagent. This synthetic method provides an inexpensive alternative to conventional fabrication techniques and is potentially applicable to a wide variety of metal oxides, making the rapid fabrication of active photocatalysts with controlled crystallinity more efficient.
KW - Nanoparticle
KW - Electrochemistry
KW - Photocatalysis
KW - metal oxides
U2 - 10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b02465
DO - 10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b02465
M3 - Article
SN - 0743-7463
VL - 33
SP - 13295
EP - 13302
JO - Langmuir
JF - Langmuir
IS - 46
ER -