Visible light-enhanced electrocatalytic alcohol oxidation based on two dimensional Pt-BiOBr nanocomposite

Abstract

Photoelectrocatalytic oxidation based on noble/semiconductor has been a renewed interest in the past decades. The lack of high-performance semiconductor support remains a challenge for the harvesting and conversion of solar energy. Here, we report the syntheses of two dimensional (2D) BiOBr nanosheets with the superiorities of suitable band gaps, nontoxic, corrosion resistant and so on. These features enable them unprecedented performance for acting as the visible-light-driven support towards alcohol oxidation. Firstly, the pure BiOBr nanosheet has negligible activity towards alcohol oxidation. After the deposition of Pt nanoparticles (NPs), the as-prepared Pt-BiOBr composites show superior electrocatalytic activities towards ethanol and methanol oxidation reaction under visible light irradiation, with the mass activities of 929.8 mA mg−1Pt and 751.7 mA mg−1Pt, 6.0 and 28.4-fold enhancements than those under dark condition, respectively. The great enhancement in the photoelectrocatalytic performances can be attributed to the unique 2D nanostructure, synergistic and photocatalytic effects. This work may pave up a new route for designing the desirable semiconductor supports for the decoration of the noble metal catalysts, showing significant promise for the application of fuel cells.