Low-cost hydrogen production is the basis for achieving "hydrogen economy." One of the ideal programs is to simulate the photoreaction stage of photosynthesis in plants, using sunlight to decompose water. At present, artificially decomposing water often consumes extra energy and other raw materials, or requires higher energy light, does not utilize the visible light in sunlight, and therefore requires higher costs.
A recent press release from Osaka University in Japan said researchers at the university combined a combination of ultra-thin black phosphorus with bismuth vanadate to create a new catalyst that effectively shines on sunlight. Related papers published in the new issue of Germany, "Applied Chemistry" International Edition.
Black phosphorus is a kind of monocrystal of phosphorus. Ultrathin black phosphorus has excellent semiconducting properties and is a hot spot in the research field of two-dimensional materials. It has strong absorbency and can absorb all wavelengths of light in the visible spectrum. Bismuth vanadate is a yellow inorganic compound, and its photocatalytic properties have drawn people's attention in recent years.
The researchers said that the reduction of water by black phosphorus combined with the oxidation of water by bismuth vanadate allows the rapid transport of electrons, which decompose water into hydrogen and oxygen under visible light without the need to consume other raw materials. Visible light accounts for about half of the total solar radiation energy, will be included in the use of a substantial increase in photocatalytic efficiency.