Solvent Etching Process for Graphitic Carbon Nitride Photocatalysts Containing Platinum Cocatalyst: Effects of Water Hydrolysis on Photocatalytic Properties and Hydrogen Evolution Behaviors.

In this study, we synthesized Pt/g-CN photocatalysts modified by a solvent etching process where ethanol (Pt/CN0), water (Pt/CN100), and a 50:50 mixture (Pt/CN50) were used as a solvent, and investigated the optimal properties of g-CN to prepare the best Pt/g-CN for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. From diverse characterizations, water was proven to be a stronger solvent agent, resulting in not only the introduction of more O-functional groups onto the g-CN surface, but also the degradation of a regular array of tri-s-triazine units in the g-CN structure. While the addition of O-functional groups positively influenced the oxidation state of the Pt cocatalyst and the hydrogen production rate, the changes to g-CN structure retarded charge transfer on its surface, inducing negative effects such as fast recombination and less oxidized Pt species.

Ethanol Solvothermal Treatment on Graphitic Carbon Nitride Materials for Enhancing Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Performance.

Recently, Pt-loaded graphic carbon nitride (g-CN) materials have attracted great attention as a photocatalyst for hydrogen evolution from water. The simple surface modification of g-CN by hydrothermal methods improves photocatalytic performance. In this study, ethanol is used as a solvothermal solvent to modify the surface properties of g-CN for the first time.

Inverted Polymer Solar Cells with Annealing-Free Solution-Processable NiO.

Nickel oxide (NiO) offers intrinsic p-type behavior and high thermal and chemical stability, making it promising as a hole transport layer (HTL) material in inverted organic solar cells. However, its use in this application has been rare because of a wettability problem caused by use of water as base solvent and high-temperature annealing requirements. In the present work, an annealing-free solution-processable method for NiO deposition is developed and applied in both conventional and inverted non-fullerene polymer solar cells.