Dye-sensitized mesoporous Ta3N5 photocatalysts for water splitting under visible light with longer wavelengths up to ~600 nm

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26810125
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Inorganic industrial materials
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: GUO LIMIN 九州大学, カーボンニュートラル・エネルギー国際研究所, 学術研究員 (60700143)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: photocatalysis

Outline of Final Research Achievements

On the basis of sol-gel method, high surface area mesoporous Ta2O5 (117 m2/g) and crystalline mesoporous Ta3N5 (44 m2/g), which can adsorb visible light up to 600 nm, has been successfully synthesized. For the crystalline mesoporous Ta2O5, the photocatalytic performace demonstrated three times higher than that of noporous courtpart. For the Ta3N5, however, the performance are not ideal. Although the surface area of mesoporous Ta3N5 were dramatically increased comparing with bulk counterparts, the crystallinity was still low, which is disadvantage and easily results in the combination of photo-induced electron and hole. Several organic dyes have been used to improve the charge separation and photocatalytic activity of the catalysts. Some interesting phenomena was observed, although the overall water splitting has not be achieved. The correponding results will be published in near future. Now, I am trying to increase the crystallinity of the as-synthesized mesoporous Ta3N5.

Free Research Field

catalysis