Multiple light scattering and nanotip effect of hierarchical sea urchin-like W18O49 boosting photocatalytic hydrolysis of ammonia borane

The morphology of catalysts is a key factor influencing their photocatalytic performance. Herein, we prepared three W 18 O 49 photocatalysts with different morphologies of sea urchin (W 18 O 49 SU), nanorod (W 18 O 49 NR) and hollow sphere (W 18 O 49 HS), and evaluate their performances in photocatalytic hydrolysis of ammonia borane (AB). Remarkably, W 18 O 49 SU exhibited an impressive photocatalytic H 2 production rate with the highest TOF of 53.1 min −1 under visible light, which is 10.4 and 7.5 times higher than those of W 18 O 49 HS and W 18 O 49 NR, respectively. The comprehensive characterizations and control experiments revealed that the unique sea urchin-like morphology enabled the strong light harvesting by multiple light scattering, fast separation of photogenerated charges and directional electron enrichment by nanotip effect, which collaboratively boost the photocatalytic activity . Moreover, the enhancement effect of sea urchin-like morphology is again approved well on Nb 2 O 5 photocatalysts. This work opens a paradigm to synergistically improve light harvesting and charge separation efficiency through rational design of photocatalyst nanostructure .