Manipulating the Low-Energy Photons by an Upconversion Fluorescent Hybrid Photocatalyst for Water Oxidation

作者：Yuli Xiong, Jiangna Guo, Lin Yang, Shuangrui Yao, Peng Xiao, Yunhuai Zhang · 发表于：ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering · 年份：2021 · DOI：10.1021/acssuschemeng.1c03189 · 被引用次数：7 · 研究领域：Luminescence Properties of Advanced Materials、Perovskite Materials and Applications、Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques

Upconversion fluorescence (NaYF 4 /Yb, Er) is a promising technique employed by solar cells for enhancing light harvesting, especially for manipulating the low-energy photons. Here, we report a semiconductor/NaYF 4 /Yb, Er hybrid structure applied to photoelectrochemical (PEC) water oxidation. Three emission peaks in visible wavelengths at 522.5, 541.5, and 655.5 nm are observed for NaYF 4 /Yb, Er under 980 nm excitation due to a nonlinear anti-Stokes process. Owing to the overlap between the upconversion fluorescent emission of NaYF 4 /Yb, Er and the UV–vis absorption edge of Fe 2 O 3, the hybrid structure Fe 2 O 3 /NaYF 4 /Yb, Er presents 70% enhancement of the photocurrent density compared with the pristine Fe 2 O 3 and 19% improvement in the carrier concentration. The charge-transfer kinetics at the electrode/electrolyte interface is also reinforced. Through the radiation-reabsorption mechanism, this hybrid semiconductor integrated with upconversion fluorescence reveals efficient energy conversion effect and presents valuable reference for PEC applications.