Morphology-Controlled Synthesis of Au/Cu₂FeSnS₄ Core-Shell Nanostructures for Plasmon-Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation.

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces

†Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology and the State Key Laboratory of Chirosciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China.

Published: May 2015

Copper-based chalcogenides of earth-abundant elements have recently arisen as an alternate material for solar energy conversion. Cu2FeSnS4 (CITS), a quaternary chalcogenide that has received relatively little attention, has the potential to be developed into a low-cost and environmentlly friendly material for photovoltaics and photocatalysis. Herein, we report, for the first time, the synthesis, characterization, and growth mechanism of novel Au/CITS core-shell nanostructures with controllable morphology. Precise manipulations in the core-shell dimensions are demonstrated to yield two distinct heterostructures with spherical and multipod gold nanoparticle (NP) cores (Au(sp)/CITS and Au(mp)/CITS). In photocatalytic hydrogen generation with as-synthesized Au/CITS NPs, the presence of Au cores inside the CITS shell resulted in higher hydrogen generation rates, which can be attributed to the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect. The Au(sp)/CITS and Au(mp)/CITS core-shell NPs enhanced the photocatalytic hydrogen generation by about 125% and 240%, respectively, compared to bare CITS NPs.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsami.5b00715DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

hydrogen generation
16
photocatalytic hydrogen
12
core-shell nanostructures
8
ausp/cits aump/cits
8
morphology-controlled synthesis
4
synthesis au/cu₂fesns₄
4
core-shell
4
au/cu₂fesns₄ core-shell
4
nanostructures plasmon-enhanced
4
plasmon-enhanced photocatalytic
4

Similar Publications

Silibinin, a PLC-β3 inhibitor, inhibits mast cell activation and alleviates OVA-induced asthma.

Mol Immunol

January 2025

Chinese Medicine Research and Development Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Master Program of Pharmaceutical Manufacture, College of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan. Electronic address:

The immunoglobulin E (IgE) receptor FcεRI (Fc epsilon RI) plays a crucial role in allergic reactions. Recent studies have indicated that the interaction between FcεRIβ and the downstream protein phospholipase C beta 3 (PLCβ3) leads to the production of inflammatory cytokines. The aim of this study was to develop small molecules that inhibit the protein-protein interactions between FcεRIβ and PLCβ3 to treat allergic inflammation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In the typical ionothermal synthesis of crystalline carbon nitride (CCN), alkali metal halides are usually used in large amounts. Here, we report a new method for synthesizing poly (heptazine imide) (PHI) using only a trace amount of NaF, which is 20 times less than the amount of NaCl typically required to achieve the PHI structure. Different from the prevailing view that salts function primarily as templates and chelating agents during polymerization, our research revealed the unique role that NaF plays in the polymerization of PHI.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Functionalized Terthiophene as an Ambipolar Redox System: Structure, Spectroscopy, and Switchable Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer.

J Am Chem Soc

January 2025

Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland.

Organic redox systems that can undergo oxidative and reductive (ambipolar) electron transfer are elusive yet attractive for applications across synthetic chemistry and energy science. Specifically, the use of ambipolar redox systems in proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) reactions is largely unexplored but could enable "switchable" reactivity wherein the uptake and release of hydrogen atoms are controlled using a redox stimulus. Here, we describe the synthesis and characterization of an ambipolar functionalized terthiophene (TTH) bearing methyl thioether and phosphine oxide groups that exhibits switchable PCET reactivity.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The present study focuses on designing mutant peptides derived from the lanthanide binding tag (LBT) to enhance selectivity for trivalent actinide (An) ions over lanthanide (Ln) metal ions (M). The LBT is a short peptide consisting of only 17 amino acids, and is known for its high affinity towards Ln. LBT was modified by substituting hard-donor ligands like asparagine (ASN or N) and aspartic acid (ASP or D) with softer ligand cysteine (CYS or C) to create four mutant peptides: M-LBT (wild-type), M-N103C, M-D105C, and M-N103C-D105C.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Strained spiro-heterocycles (SSH) have gained significant attention within the medicinal chemistry community as promising (sp3)-rich bioisosteres for their aromatic and non-spirocyclic counterparts. We herein report access to an unprecedented spiro-heterocycle - 1,5-dioxaspiro[2.3]hexane.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!