Robust and tunable oxide nanoscrolls for solar-driven H$_2$ generation and storage

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Gupta, Adway, Singh, Arunima
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Gupta, Adway
Singh, Arunima
author_facet Gupta, Adway
Singh, Arunima
contents Hydrogen gas is a promising alternative to fossil fuels due to its high energy output and environmentally safe byproducts. Various morphologies of photocatalytic materials have been explored for high-efficiency H$_2$ production, for instance, quasi-1D nanoscroll structures that provide larger surface-to-volume ratio. Recently, we predicted layer-by-layer formation of stable oxide nanoscrolls directly from dichalcogenide precursors, eliminating the need for costly formation of two-dimensional oxides for a roll-up synthesis of nanoscrolls. In this study, we evaluate the suitability of those oxide nanoscroll materials MoO$_3$, WO$_3$, PdO$_2$, HfO$_2$, and GeO$_2$ for solar-driven photocatalytic H$_2$ production and storage. Using excited state theory simulations we discern their electronic properties as a function of interlayer scroll spacing and find them to possess electronic properties that are suitable for photocatalysis. Additionally, using ab initio molecular dynamics simulations we show that they are also suitable for H$_2$ storage as the nanoscrolls exhibit effective trapping of hydrogen, even in the presence of defects and vacancies in the oxides. This work thus demonstrates the discovery of robust and tunable oxide nanoscrolls as novel materials for advancing solar-driven hydrogen technologies.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2503_00217
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Robust and tunable oxide nanoscrolls for solar-driven H$_2$ generation and storage
Gupta, Adway
Singh, Arunima
Materials Science
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Computational Physics
Hydrogen gas is a promising alternative to fossil fuels due to its high energy output and environmentally safe byproducts. Various morphologies of photocatalytic materials have been explored for high-efficiency H$_2$ production, for instance, quasi-1D nanoscroll structures that provide larger surface-to-volume ratio. Recently, we predicted layer-by-layer formation of stable oxide nanoscrolls directly from dichalcogenide precursors, eliminating the need for costly formation of two-dimensional oxides for a roll-up synthesis of nanoscrolls. In this study, we evaluate the suitability of those oxide nanoscroll materials MoO$_3$, WO$_3$, PdO$_2$, HfO$_2$, and GeO$_2$ for solar-driven photocatalytic H$_2$ production and storage. Using excited state theory simulations we discern their electronic properties as a function of interlayer scroll spacing and find them to possess electronic properties that are suitable for photocatalysis. Additionally, using ab initio molecular dynamics simulations we show that they are also suitable for H$_2$ storage as the nanoscrolls exhibit effective trapping of hydrogen, even in the presence of defects and vacancies in the oxides. This work thus demonstrates the discovery of robust and tunable oxide nanoscrolls as novel materials for advancing solar-driven hydrogen technologies.
title Robust and tunable oxide nanoscrolls for solar-driven H$_2$ generation and storage
topic Materials Science
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Computational Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.00217