 Nickel (II) oxide (NiO) is a p-type semiconductor that has commonly been used as an electrocatalyst for water oxidation and as a cocatalyst for water splitting photocatalysis. Here we show that individual NiO nanocrystals exhibit photocatalytic water reduction properties under band gap excitation. Photochemical deposition of platinum on the nanocrystals improves the photocatalytic properties. Photoelectrochemical and surface photovoltage scans reveal that the p-type character of the NiO nanocrystals is enhanced, likely due to surface oxidation to Ni2O3, and that electron transfer from NiO to platinum takes place.

p-Type nickel oxide nanocrystals as photocatalyst for hydrogen evolution from aqueous methanol solution

248th National Meeting (2014)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.