Carbon-nanotube-based photocatalysts for water splitting in cooperation with BiVO4 and [Co(bpy)3]3+/2+

Abstract

Physical modifications of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with fullerodendrons, followed by complexation with RuCl3 leads to the formation of CNT-photocatalysts that exhibit high quantum yields (QY = 12.8%) for the production of H2 from water, even under illumination with NIR light (λirr = 1005 nm) in the presence of sacrificial donor. A Z-scheme photocatalytic system, consisting of such a CNT-photocatalyst, BiVO4, and [Co(bpy)3]3+/2+ shows a production of H2 (17 μmol/h) and O2 (5.5μmol/h) under illumination from a solar simulator (AM-1.5) with a solar-to-hydrogen (STH) efficiency of 0.089%.