北大、近赤外光による水の光酸化に成功。人工光合成への応用期待
北大の三澤研は1000 nm の波長の光(1.24 eV相当)を使って、水を酸化し酸素、過酸化水素を生成する光触媒の作成に成功したそうです。二酸化チタン電極状に、金をアンテナとして貼付けることがキーポイントだそうです。
1. 太陽光のエネルギーの中でも相当の部分を占める近赤外波長の光を使えること、および 2. 水から電子を取り出すのみならず、エネルギー源としての利用が可能な過酸化水素を直接生成できることが重要なポイントだと思います。
Review
Subject Category: Energy conversion, catalysis and separation
Citation: NPG Asia Materials (2013) 5, e61; doi:10.1038/am.2013.42
Published online 6 September 2013
Published online 6 September 2013
Plasmon-enhanced photocurrent generation and water oxidation from visible to near-infrared wavelengths
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- 1Research Institute for Electronic Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- 2PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Japan
Correspondence: Professor H Misawa, Research Institute for Electronic Science, Hokkaido University, N21, W10, Kita-ku, Sapporo 001-0021, Japan. E-mail: misawa@es.hokudai.ac.jp
Received 30 May 2013; Revised 16 June 2013; Accepted 18 June 2013
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Abstract
This paper presents recent investigations of plasmon-enhanced photoelectric conversion and water oxidation by visible and near-infrared light irradiation. Since the discovery of the Honda–Fujishima effect in 1972, significant efforts have been devoted to lengthening the light–energy conversion wavelength. In this context, plasmonic photoelectric conversion has been recently demonstrated at visible-to-near-infrared wavelengths without deteriorating photoelectric conversion by employing titanium dioxide (TiO2) single-crystal photoelectrodes, in which gold nanorods are elaborately arrayed on the surface. A potassium perchlorate aqueous solution was employed as an electrolyte solution without additional electron donors; thus, water molecules provided the electrons. The stoichiometric evolution of oxygen and hydrogen peroxide as a result of the four- or two-electron oxidation of water molecules, respectively, was accomplished with near-infrared light irradiation using the plasmonic optical antenna effect. As there is very little overpotential for water oxidation, these results constitute a significant advancement in this field. In addition, this photoelectric conversion system could potentially be employed in artificial photosynthesis systems that exceed the photosynthetic capabilities of plants by allowing for photoconversion over a wide range of wavelengths.
Keywords:
gold nanorod; localized surface plasmon resonance; near-infrared light; photoelectric conversion; plasmonic chemistry; water oxidation
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