Tohoku University · Engineering
Professor Hongmin Zhu's research lab specializes in the design and synthesis of advanced semiconductor nanostructures for solar energy conversion, with a primary focus on photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical water splitting. The lab develops novel heterojunction architectures, such as core–shell, p–n, and Schottky junction systems, integrating materials like TaON, Cu₂O, Ta₃N₅, and graphene-based composites to enhance charge separation and photostability. Key research directions include the rational engineering of hierarchical nanostructures, surface passivation strategies, and the integration of plasmonic or co-catalyst nanostructures to maximize solar-to-fuel efficiency.
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
The p-type Cu<sub>2</sub>O/n-type TaON heterojunction nanorod array passivated with ultrathin carbon sheath as a surface protection layer is excellent in photoelectrochemical water splitting.
Large-scale hydrogen production through water splitting using photocatalysts with solar energy can potentially produce clean fuel from renewable resources. In this work, photocatalytic evolution of H2 with a high efficiency was achieved using graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets decorated with CdS sensitized TaON core–shell composites (GO–CdS@TaON). The CdS@TaON core–shell nanocomposites were prepared by an ion-exchange route with assistance from a hydrothermal process on GO as the support. The TaON c
The photochemical conversion of carbon dioxide provides a straightforward and effective strategy for the highly efficient production of solar fuels with high solar-light utilization efficiency. However, the high recombination rate of photoexcited electron-hole (e-h) pairs and the poor photostability have greatly limited their practical applications. Herein, a practical strategy is proposed to facilitate the separation of e-h pairs and enhance the photostability in a semiconductor by the use of a
Hierarchical tantalum-based oxide and (oxy)nitride with hollow urchin-like nanostructures have been synthesized for the first time by an in situ self-assembly wet-chemical route in addition with post-thermal nitridation. Notably, a single-phase metastable γ-TaON with hollow urchin-like spheres among the tantalum (oxy)nitrides was obtained during the phase transformation process from an orthorhombic Ta2O5 to a typical monoclinic β-TaON, corresponding the order of phase formation: Ta2O5 → γ-TaON →
The hierarchically CoO<sub>x</sub>decorated 2D C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>nanosheet–1D/2D nanorod/nanosheet-assembled barium-doped TaON array as 3D heterojunction photoanode exhibited the enhanced photocurrent density and durable photostability for photoelectrochemical solar water splitting.
Ta3N5 nanorod arrays were fabricated by nitridation of fluorine-containing tantalum oxide (F–Ta2O5) nanorod arrays grown in situ on Ta substrates by a one-pot vapour-phase hydrothermal induced self-assembly technique. In this protocol, the in situ generation and the morphology of arrays elaborately adjusted by reaction time, play a vital role in the formation of the F–Ta2O5 nanorod arrays and a highly conductive interlayer between the nanorods and the substrate. Due to the shape anisotropy, orde
Aluminum-ion batteries are currently regarded as the most promising energy storage batteries. The recent development of aluminum-ion batteries has been greatly promoted based on the use of graphitic carbon materials as a positive electrode. However, it remains unclear whether all carbonaceous materials can achieve excellent electrochemical behaviour similar to graphite. In this study, the correlation between the graphitization degree and capacity of a graphite electrode is systematically investi
Photocatalytic oxygen evolution with a high efficiency was achieved using tantalum nitride (Ta3N5) quantum dots (QDs) coupled TaON hollow spheres (Ta3N5–TaON). TaON hollow spheres coupled with the surface enriched Ta3N5 QDs were prepared by an in situ chemical reduction route in ammonia solution at −45 °C and were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectra, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra and photoluminescenc
Three-dimensional MoS2-CdS-γ-TaON hollow composites have been successfully synthesized by anchoring MoS2-CdS nanocrystals on the surfaces of γ-TaON hollow spheres via a two-step ion-exchange route with assistance from a hydrothermal process. Even without the noble-metal cocatalyst, the as-prepared MoS2-CdS-γ-TaON hollow structure with 1 wt% MoS2/CdS cocatalyst (0.2 wt% MoS2) decorated on its surface produces a high photocatalytic hydrogen production rate of 628.5 μmol h(-1).
A single phase titanium oxycarbonitride TiC0.25O0.25N0.5 was prepared by sintering a homogenous mixture of TiO, TiC and TiN with a molar ratio of 1 : 1 : 2 by spark plasma sintering (SPS) at 1873 K. TiO0.25C0.25N0.5 was then used as the consumable anode for the USTB titanium process and the anode dissolution process was investigated by electrochemical methods. The results showed that TiO0.25C0.25N0.5 was electrochemically dissolved into Ti(2+) in the NaCl-KCl melts as determined by square-wave v
Large-scale hydrogen production through water splitting using photocatalysts with solar energy can potentially produce clean fuel from renewable resources. In this work, photocatalytic hydrogen evolution with a high efficiency was achieved using CdS nanocrystal decorated CdLa2S4 microspheres (CdS/CdLa2S4) successfully prepared by a two-step hydrothermal process. The obtained CdS/CdLa2S4 composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron microscopy (EM), X-ray photoelectron spectros
Efficient wastewater remediation was achieved <italic>via</italic> initial selective adsorption and subsequent photodegradation using multifunctional 3D K<sub>2</sub>Ti<sub>6</sub>O<sub>13</sub> NAs with promising photoelectrochemical application.
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