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Title: Biomimetic Catalysts Based on Au@ZnO–Graphene Composites for the Generation of Hydrogen by Water Splitting

Abstract

For some decades, the scientific community has been looking for alternatives to the use of fossil fuels that allow for the planet’s sustainable and environmentally-friendly development. To do this, attempts have been made to mimic some processes that occur in nature, among which the photosystem-II stands out, which allows water splitting operating with different steps to generate oxygen and hydrogen. This research presents promising results using synthetic catalysts, which try to simulate some natural processes, and which are based on Au@ZnO–graphene compounds. These catalysts were prepared by incorporating different amounts of gold nanoparticles (1 wt.%, 3 wt.%, 5 wt.%, 10 wt.%) and graphene (1 wt.%) on the surface of synthesized zinc oxide nanowires (ZnO NWs), and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), along with a commercial form (commercial ZnO) for comparison purposes. The highest amount of hydrogen (1127 μmol/hg) was reported by ZnO NWs with a gold and graphene loadings of 10 wt.% and 1 wt.%, respectively, under irradiation at 400 nm. Quantities of 759 μmol/hg and 709 μmol/hg were obtained with catalysts based on ZnO NPs and commercial ZnO, respectively. The photocatalytic activity of all composites increased with respect to the bare semiconductors, being 2.5 times higher in ZnO NWs,more » 8.8 times higher for ZnO NPs, and 7.5 times higher for commercial ZnO. The high photocatalytic activity of the catalysts is attributed, mainly, to the synergism between the different amount of gold and graphene incorporated, and the surface area of the composites.« less

Authors:
ORCiD logo; ORCiD logo; ; ; ; ; ; ORCiD logo; ; ORCiD logo
Publication Date:
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
OSTI Identifier:
1650224
Grant/Contract Number:  
Massie Chair Project at Universidad del Turabo
Resource Type:
Published Article
Journal Name:
Biomimetics
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Name: Biomimetics Journal Volume: 5 Journal Issue: 3; Journal ID: ISSN 2313-7673
Publisher:
MDPI AG
Country of Publication:
Switzerland
Language:
English

Citation Formats

Machín, Abniel, Arango, Juan C., Fontánez, Kenneth, Cotto, María, Duconge, José, Soto-Vázquez, Loraine, Resto, Edgar, Petrescu, Florian Ion Tiberiu, Morant, Carmen, and Márquez, Francisco. Biomimetic Catalysts Based on Au@ZnO–Graphene Composites for the Generation of Hydrogen by Water Splitting. Switzerland: N. p., 2020. Web. doi:10.3390/biomimetics5030039.
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Machín, Abniel, Arango, Juan C., Fontánez, Kenneth, Cotto, María, Duconge, José, Soto-Vázquez, Loraine, Resto, Edgar, Petrescu, Florian Ion Tiberiu, Morant, Carmen, & Márquez, Francisco. Biomimetic Catalysts Based on Au@ZnO–Graphene Composites for the Generation of Hydrogen by Water Splitting. Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics5030039
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Machín, Abniel, Arango, Juan C., Fontánez, Kenneth, Cotto, María, Duconge, José, Soto-Vázquez, Loraine, Resto, Edgar, Petrescu, Florian Ion Tiberiu, Morant, Carmen, and Márquez, Francisco. Fri . "Biomimetic Catalysts Based on Au@ZnO–Graphene Composites for the Generation of Hydrogen by Water Splitting". Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics5030039.
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@article{osti_1650224,
title = {Biomimetic Catalysts Based on Au@ZnO–Graphene Composites for the Generation of Hydrogen by Water Splitting},
author = {Machín, Abniel and Arango, Juan C. and Fontánez, Kenneth and Cotto, María and Duconge, José and Soto-Vázquez, Loraine and Resto, Edgar and Petrescu, Florian Ion Tiberiu and Morant, Carmen and Márquez, Francisco},
abstractNote = {For some decades, the scientific community has been looking for alternatives to the use of fossil fuels that allow for the planet’s sustainable and environmentally-friendly development. To do this, attempts have been made to mimic some processes that occur in nature, among which the photosystem-II stands out, which allows water splitting operating with different steps to generate oxygen and hydrogen. This research presents promising results using synthetic catalysts, which try to simulate some natural processes, and which are based on Au@ZnO–graphene compounds. These catalysts were prepared by incorporating different amounts of gold nanoparticles (1 wt.%, 3 wt.%, 5 wt.%, 10 wt.%) and graphene (1 wt.%) on the surface of synthesized zinc oxide nanowires (ZnO NWs), and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), along with a commercial form (commercial ZnO) for comparison purposes. The highest amount of hydrogen (1127 μmol/hg) was reported by ZnO NWs with a gold and graphene loadings of 10 wt.% and 1 wt.%, respectively, under irradiation at 400 nm. Quantities of 759 μmol/hg and 709 μmol/hg were obtained with catalysts based on ZnO NPs and commercial ZnO, respectively. The photocatalytic activity of all composites increased with respect to the bare semiconductors, being 2.5 times higher in ZnO NWs, 8.8 times higher for ZnO NPs, and 7.5 times higher for commercial ZnO. The high photocatalytic activity of the catalysts is attributed, mainly, to the synergism between the different amount of gold and graphene incorporated, and the surface area of the composites.},
doi = {10.3390/biomimetics5030039},
journal = {Biomimetics},
number = 3,
volume = 5,
place = {Switzerland},
year = {Fri Aug 21 00:00:00 EDT 2020},
month = {Fri Aug 21 00:00:00 EDT 2020}
}
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https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics5030039
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