Flux synthesis of regular Bi4TaO8Cl square nanoplates exhibiting dominant exposure surfaces of {001} crystal facets for photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to methane

Liang Li; Qiutong Han; Lanqin Tang; Yuan Zhang; Ping Li; Yong Zhou; Zhigang Zou

doi:10.1039/c7nr06279f

Flux synthesis of regular Bi₄TaO₈Cl square nanoplates exhibiting dominant exposure surfaces of {001} crystal facets for photocatalytic reduction of CO₂ to methane

Nanoscale. 2018 Jan 25;10(4):1905-1911. doi: 10.1039/c7nr06279f.

Authors

Liang Li¹, Qiutong Han¹, Lanqin Tang², Yuan Zhang¹, Ping Li¹, Yong Zhou³, Zhigang Zou⁴

Affiliations

¹ National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Department of Physics, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China and Ecomaterials and Renewable Energy Research Center (ERERC), Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China.
² National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Department of Physics, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China and Ecomaterials and Renewable Energy Research Center (ERERC), Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng 22401, P. R.China.
³ National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Department of Physics, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China and Ecomaterials and Renewable Energy Research Center (ERERC), Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China and Key Laboratory of Modern Acoustics, MOE, Institute of Acoustics, School of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, P. R. China. zhouyong1999@nju.edu.cn and Kunshan Sunlaite New Energy Co. Ltd., Kunshan Innovation Institute of Nanjing University, Kunshan, Jiangsu 215347, P. R. China.
⁴ National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Department of Physics, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China and Ecomaterials and Renewable Energy Research Center (ERERC), Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China and Kunshan Sunlaite New Energy Co. Ltd., Kunshan Innovation Institute of Nanjing University, Kunshan, Jiangsu 215347, P. R. China.

PMID: 29318248
DOI: 10.1039/c7nr06279f

Abstract

Herein, orthorhombic regular Bi₄TaO₈Cl square nanoplates with an edge length of about 500 nm and a thickness of about 100 nm were successfully synthesized using a facile molten salt route. The as-prepared square nanoplates have been proven to be of {001} crystal facets as two dominantly exposed surfaces. The density functional theory calculation and photo-deposition of noble metal experiment demonstrate the electron and hole separation on different crystal facets and reveal that {001} crystal facets are in favor of the reduction reaction. Since the square nanoplate structure exhibits dominant exposure surfaces of the {001} facets, the molten salt route-based samples basically possess an obviously higher photocatalytic activity than those prepared by the solid state reaction (SSR) method. This study may provide inspiration for fabricating efficient photocatalysts.