2022_ publication in Scientific Reports ”Control of monomeric vs clusters in ZrO2-X for solar-light H2 production from H2O has been added to the collection ”Hydrogen and alternative fuel sources”

Scientific Reports article ”Control of monomeric Vo’s versus Vo clusters in ZrO2−x for solar-light H2 production from H2O at high-yield (millimoles gr−1 h−1)” has been added to the collection ”Hydrogen and alternative fuel sources

ABSTRACT

Pristine zirconia, ZrO2, possesses high premise as photocatalyst due to its conduction band energy edge. However, its high energy-gap is prohibitive for photoactivation by solar-light. Currently, it is unclear how solar-active zirconia can be designed to meet the requirements for high photocatalytic performance. Moreover, transferring this design to an industrial-scale process is a forward-looking route. Herein, we have developed a novel Flame Spray Pyrolysis process for generating solar-light active nano-ZrO2−x via engineering of lattice vacancies, Vo. Using solar photons, our optimal nanoZrO2−x can achieve milestone H2-production yield,> 2400 μmolg−1 ­h−1 (closest thus, so far, to high photocatalytic water splitting performance benchmarks). Visible light can be also exploited by nano-ZrO2−x at a high yield via a two-photon process. Control of monomeric Vo versus clusters of Vo’s is the key parameter toward Highly-Performing-Photocatalytic ZrO2−x. Thus, the reusable and sustainable ZrO2−x catalyst achieves so far unattainable solar activated photocatalysis, under large scale production.

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