Gold nanoclusters loaded TiO₂ photoelectrode for photoelectrochemical water splitting reaction

Utilizing inexhaustible solar energy to split water into oxygen and clean hydrogen energy is an ideal solution for addressing the increasingly severe energy and environmental issues. This study aims to develop a composite photocatalyst based on titanium dioxide semiconductors for the efficient use of solar energy. Gold nanoclusters, novel sub-nanomaterials with atomic precision, exhibit molecular-like properties due to the quantum size effect. By loading them onto titanium dioxide materials as photosensitizers, the electrons in the Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital (HOMO) can be easily excited to higher energy levels under light illumination and injected into the CB of TiO2. This research explores the combination of gold nanoclusters with wide bandgap semiconductors, represented by tit...[ Read more ]