In situ construction of elemental phosphorus nanorod-modified TiO2 photocatalysts for efficient visible-light-driven H2 generation

In this work, we constructed a red phosphorus (RP)/TiO2 composite system via a chemical vapor deposition strategy. The evolution of the fibrous phased RP nanorods on the surface of anatase TiO2 spheres was rationally adjusted by controlling the composition of precursors. The optimal RP/TiO2 composite exhibited a significantly enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic H2 generation rate of 681 mu mol h-1 g-1. The tightly interior surface bonding between RP and TiO2 greatly promoted the efficient charge transfer and redistribution by suppressing the charge recombination and self-trapping processes within TiO2, resulting in prolonged lifetimes of the active charges during the photocatalytic process as investigated in detailed using femtosecond time-resolved transient absorption (fs-TA) spectroscopy.

Automated summary

In this study, a red phosphorus (RP)/TiO2 composite system was constructed via a chemical vapor deposition strategy, leading to a significantly enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic H2 generation rate. The tight interior surface bonding between RP and TiO2 greatly promoted efficient charge transfer and redistribution, extending the lifetimes of active charges during the photocatalytic process.