Photoactive Heterostructures: How They Are Made and Explored

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articleResearchpeer review

Authors

  • Alexei V. Emeline
  • Aida V. Rudakova
  • Ruslan V. Mikhaylov
  • Kirill M. Bulanin
  • Detlef W. Bahnemann

Research Organisations

External Research Organisations

  • Saint Petersburg State University
  • Irkutsk National Research Technical University
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Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number294
Pages (from-to)1-31
Number of pages31
JournalCatalysts
Volume11
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - 23 Feb 2021

Abstract

In our review we consider the results on the development and exploration of heterostructured photoactive materials with major attention focused on what are the better ways to form this type of materials and how to explore them correctly. Regardless of what type of heterostructure, metal–semiconductor or semiconductor–semiconductor, is formed, its functionality strongly depends on the quality of heterojunction. In turn, it depends on the selection of the heterostructure components (their chemical and physical properties) and on the proper choice of the synthesis method. Several examples of the different approaches such as in situ and ex situ, bottom‐up and top‐down, are reviewed. At the same time, even if the synthesis of heterostructured photoactive materials seems to be successful, strong experimental physical evidence demonstrating true heterojunction formation are required. A possibility for obtaining such evidence using different physical techniques is discussed. Particularly, it is demonstrated that the ability of optical spectroscopy to study heterostructured materials is in fact very limited. At the same time, such experimental techniques as high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and electrophysical methods (work function measurements and impedance spectroscopy) present a true signature of heterojunction formation. Therefore, whatever the purpose of heterostructure formation and studies is, the application of HRTEM and electrophysical methods is necessary to confirm that formation of the heterojunction was successful.

Keywords

    Heterojunctions, Heterostructures, Photoactive materials, Photocatalysis, Photoelectrochemistry, Solar energy conversion

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Cite this

Photoactive Heterostructures: How They Are Made and Explored. / Emeline, Alexei V.; Rudakova, Aida V.; Mikhaylov, Ruslan V. et al.
In: Catalysts, Vol. 11, No. 2, 294, 23.02.2021, p. 1-31.

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articleResearchpeer review

Emeline, AV, Rudakova, AV, Mikhaylov, RV, Bulanin, KM & Bahnemann, DW 2021, 'Photoactive Heterostructures: How They Are Made and Explored', Catalysts, vol. 11, no. 2, 294, pp. 1-31. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal11020294
Emeline, A. V., Rudakova, A. V., Mikhaylov, R. V., Bulanin, K. M., & Bahnemann, D. W. (2021). Photoactive Heterostructures: How They Are Made and Explored. Catalysts, 11(2), 1-31. Article 294. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal11020294
Emeline AV, Rudakova AV, Mikhaylov RV, Bulanin KM, Bahnemann DW. Photoactive Heterostructures: How They Are Made and Explored. Catalysts. 2021 Feb 23;11(2):1-31. 294. doi: 10.3390/catal11020294
Emeline, Alexei V. ; Rudakova, Aida V. ; Mikhaylov, Ruslan V. et al. / Photoactive Heterostructures : How They Are Made and Explored. In: Catalysts. 2021 ; Vol. 11, No. 2. pp. 1-31.
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abstract = "In our review we consider the results on the development and exploration of heterostructured photoactive materials with major attention focused on what are the better ways to form this type of materials and how to explore them correctly. Regardless of what type of heterostructure, metal–semiconductor or semiconductor–semiconductor, is formed, its functionality strongly depends on the quality of heterojunction. In turn, it depends on the selection of the heterostructure components (their chemical and physical properties) and on the proper choice of the synthesis method. Several examples of the different approaches such as in situ and ex situ, bottom‐up and top‐down, are reviewed. At the same time, even if the synthesis of heterostructured photoactive materials seems to be successful, strong experimental physical evidence demonstrating true heterojunction formation are required. A possibility for obtaining such evidence using different physical techniques is discussed. Particularly, it is demonstrated that the ability of optical spectroscopy to study heterostructured materials is in fact very limited. At the same time, such experimental techniques as high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and electrophysical methods (work function measurements and impedance spectroscopy) present a true signature of heterojunction formation. Therefore, whatever the purpose of heterostructure formation and studies is, the application of HRTEM and electrophysical methods is necessary to confirm that formation of the heterojunction was successful.",
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T1 - Photoactive Heterostructures

T2 - How They Are Made and Explored

AU - Emeline, Alexei V.

AU - Rudakova, Aida V.

AU - Mikhaylov, Ruslan V.

AU - Bulanin, Kirill M.

AU - Bahnemann, Detlef W.

N1 - Funding information: This research was funded by Russian Foundation for Basic Research (Grant No. 18?29? 23035_mk) and Saint?Petersburg State University (ID: 73032813). Acknowledgments: Preparation of this review article was performed within the activities of the Laboratory “Photoactive Nanocomposite Materials” established in Saint Petersburg University (ID: 73032813) A.V.E. and A.V.R. are also grateful for financial support provided by the Russian Foun? dation for Basic Research to explore heterostructured photoactive materials (Grant No. 18?29?23035 mk). This research was funded by Russian Foundation for Basic Research (Grant No. 18?29? 23035_mk) and Saint?Petersburg State University (ID: 73032813).

PY - 2021/2/23

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N2 - In our review we consider the results on the development and exploration of heterostructured photoactive materials with major attention focused on what are the better ways to form this type of materials and how to explore them correctly. Regardless of what type of heterostructure, metal–semiconductor or semiconductor–semiconductor, is formed, its functionality strongly depends on the quality of heterojunction. In turn, it depends on the selection of the heterostructure components (their chemical and physical properties) and on the proper choice of the synthesis method. Several examples of the different approaches such as in situ and ex situ, bottom‐up and top‐down, are reviewed. At the same time, even if the synthesis of heterostructured photoactive materials seems to be successful, strong experimental physical evidence demonstrating true heterojunction formation are required. A possibility for obtaining such evidence using different physical techniques is discussed. Particularly, it is demonstrated that the ability of optical spectroscopy to study heterostructured materials is in fact very limited. At the same time, such experimental techniques as high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and electrophysical methods (work function measurements and impedance spectroscopy) present a true signature of heterojunction formation. Therefore, whatever the purpose of heterostructure formation and studies is, the application of HRTEM and electrophysical methods is necessary to confirm that formation of the heterojunction was successful.

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