In situ liquid cell transmission electron microscopy guiding the design of large-sized cocatalysts coupled with ultra-small photocatalysts for highly efficient energy harvesting

In this study, we employed in situ liquid cell transmission electron microscopy (LC-TEM) to carry out a new design strategy of precisely regulating the microstructure of large-sized cocatalysts for highly efficient energy harvesting. This unique strategy was conducted by dynamically in situ monitoring the entire process of the galvanic replacement reaction between Cu nanowires and Au ion solutions to reveal the detailed microstructural evolution at the nanometer scale, which has never been achieved by conventional chemical methods. Based on the strategy, four kinds of cocatalysts were designed and fabricated, which have typical structural characteristics that correspond to different reaction stages. By coupling them with ultrafine photocatalysts to construct photocatalytic systems, the photocatalytic hydrogen production of the optimized system is 65 times higher than that of the counterpart photocatalysts, strongly demonstrating the feasibility of the design via in situ liquid cell TEM. The strategy here provides an innovative way to design new kinds of catalytic systems.

Automated summary

In this study, a new design strategy of precisely regulating the microstructure of large-sized cocatalysts for highly efficient energy harvesting was successfully carried out using in situ liquid cell TEM. This innovative strategy revealed detailed microstructural evolution at the nanometer scale by monitoring the galvanic replacement reaction between Cu nanowires and Au ion solutions. By coupling the designed cocatalysts with ultrafine photocatalysts to construct photocatalytic systems, the optimized system showed a 65 times higher photocatalytic hydrogen production compared to the counterpart photocatalysts, demonstrating the feasibility of the design via in situ liquid cell TEM.