Enzymatic Cooperation and H2 Evolution (VIDEO)
Caption
the synthesized site-specific single atom Cu/TiO2 catalysts underwent unique photoactivation process. By absorbing light, TiO2 excites an electron. The excited electron is transferred to a single copper atom through simple oxidation state change. The transfer of an electron in turn changes back surrounding TiO2 structures (just like induced-fit model of enzyme). This active state then reverses to the initial resting state as an electron is transferred back to the TiO2 from a metal atom. In fact, this interactive and reversible mechanism was confirmed with the white Cu/TiO2 rapidly turning to black under light irradiation, and back to initial white color when purged with air. Thanks to this enzymatic characteristics, single atom Cu/TiO2 catalyst turned over 40% of light energy into H2, an exceptionally high catalytic activity, which is as active as the most active and expensive Pt-TiO2 photocatalyst. (Hydrogen is known to be the most efficient and ideal fuel because it generates water as the only byproduct)
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