Phase Transition of Two-Dimensional ?-Ga₂O₃ Nanosheets from Ultrathin ?-Ga₂O₃ Nanosheets and Their Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Activities.

ABSTRACT: Monoclinic ?-Ga₂O₃ nanosheets hold great potential applications in electronic, optical, and photocatalytic fields. In this study, two-dimensional ?-Ga₂O₃ nanosheets were successfully fabricated through a simple crystalline phase transition from the as-prepared ultrathin ?-Ga₂O₃ nanosheets. The photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction under UV light irradiation was achieved on the two kinds of photocatalysts. However, ?-Ga₂O₃ with a higher crystallinity shows a lower photocatalytic activity in comparison with ?-Ga₂O₃. The average apparent quantum yield is calculated to be 0.29% for ?-Ga₂O₃ nanosheets and 1.82% for ?-Ga₂O₃. More efficient separation and transfer rates of photogenerated carriers and larger specific areas were found in ?-Ga₂O₃. On the basis of the analysis of the structures of ?-Ga₂O₃ and ?-Ga₂O₃, it is proposed that the disordered or defective structure contributes to the improvement of photocatalytic activity to some extent. Therefore, it is significant to develop the photocatalyst with a stable structure and a certain number of defects at the same time.

SUBMITTER: Zhang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6645061 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature