Laboratoire Mécanique des Sols, Structures et Matériaux (MSSMat), CNRS UMR 8579, CentraleSupélec, Université Paris-Saclay, 8-10 Rue Joliot-Curie, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
Dr. Delong He
Laboratoire Mécanique des Sols, Structures et Matériaux (MSSMat), CNRS UMR 8579, CentraleSupélec, Université Paris-Saclay, 8-10 Rue Joliot-Curie, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
In this paper, we reported a simple one-pot solvothermal approach to fabricate Ag/reduced graphene oxide (r-GO)/TiO2 composite photocatalyst under atmospheric pressure. Based on the experimental data, we concluded that the introduction of Ag into classical graphene–TiO2 system (i) efficiently enlarges the absorption range, (ii) improves photogenerated electron separation and (iii) increases photocatalysis reaction sites. The optimized sample exhibits prominent photocatalysis ability as compared to pure TiO2 under simulated sunlight. We further proposed that besides the above three advantages of Ag, a different size of Ag nanoparticles is also responsible for the improved photocatalysis ability, where small size Ag nanoparticles (2–5 nm) could store a photoexcited electron that was generated from TiO2, while large-size Ag nanoparticles could utilize visible light due to their localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) absorption. Our present work gives new insights into the photocatalysis mechanism of noble metal/r-GO/TiO2 composites and provides a new pathway into the design of TiO2-based photocatalysts and promote their practical application in various environmental and energy issues.
Contact electrification and triboelectric charging are areas of intense research. Despite their low ability to accept or donate electrons, polymer insulator based triboelectric nanogenerators have emerged as highly efficient mechanical‐to‐electrical conversion devices. Here, it is reviewed the structure–property–performance of polymer insulators in triboelectric nanogenerators and focus on tools that can be used to directly enhance charge generation, via altering a polymer's mechanical, thermal, chemical, and topographical properties. In addition to the discussion of these fundamental properties, the use of additives to locally manipulate the polymer surface structure is discussed. The link between each property and the underlying charging mechanism is discussed, in the context of both increasing surface charge and predicting the polarity of surface charge, and pathways to engineer triboelectric charging are highlighted. Key questions facing the field surrounding data reporting, the role of water, and synergy between mass, electron, and ion transfer mechanisms are highlighted with aspirational goals of a holistic model for triboelectric charging proposed.
1 September 2015 in Composites Science and Technology