Persistent Luminescent ZnGa2O4:Cr3+ Nanoparticles as Photocatalysts for Charge Storage-Assisted Hydrogen Evolution
Abstract
Persistent luminescent (PersL) materials are in evidence nowadays due to their property of charge storage in the form of trapped electrons that are released slowly with time. Usually, PersL materials are applied in a range of applications from decoration objects to bioimaging. Here, persistent luminescence ZnGa 2 O 4 :Cr 3+ nanoparticles are demonstrated as persistent photocatalysts for hydrogen production, expanding the range of applications of this material. Synthesized via a solvothermal liquidsolid-solution route with oleic acid, the crystalline, monodisperse nanoparticles (∼10 nm) exhibit strong UV-C absorption and nearinfrared emission. Under UV-vis irradiation with triethanolamine as a sacrificial agent, they deliver substantial H 2 yields and show measurable postirradiation hydrogen evolution. Synchrotron-based XANES, XRF, and XEOL measurements reveal a homogeneous elemental distribution and show that excitation is primarily driven by the host lattice, with energy transfer to Cr 3+ centers rather than direct excitation of the dopant. EPR and Mott-Schottky analyses indicate that Cr-related states and defect-induced traps store photogenerated charges and release them gradually, while band structure measurements confirm that proton reduction is thermodynamically favorable. These findings highlight the potential of persistent luminescent materials to sustain photocatalytic hydrogen production beyond the illumination period, opening opportunities for further investigation of postillumination photocatalytic systems.
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BibTeX
@article{palharim2026persistent,
title = {{Persistent Luminescent ZnGa2O4:Cr3+ Nanoparticles as Photocatalysts for Charge Storage-Assisted Hydrogen Evolution}},
author = {Priscila Hasse Palharim and Matheus Cavalcanti dos Santos Nunes and Neilo Marcos Trindade and Odivaldo Cambraia Alves and Julio Cesar Martins da Silva and Hynd Remita and José Miranda de Carvalho and Juliana dos Santos de Souza},
journal = {ACS Applied Nano Materials},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1021/acsanm.6c03237},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05828661v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Persistent Luminescent ZnGa2O4:Cr3+ Nanoparticles as Photocatalysts for Charge Storage-Assisted Hydrogen Evolution
AU - Priscila Hasse Palharim
AU - Matheus Cavalcanti dos Santos Nunes
AU - Neilo Marcos Trindade
AU - Odivaldo Cambraia Alves
AU - Julio Cesar Martins da Silva
AU - Hynd Remita
AU - José Miranda de Carvalho
AU - Juliana dos Santos de Souza
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/22
JO - ACS Applied Nano Materials
DO - 10.1021/acsanm.6c03237
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05828661v1
AB - Persistent luminescent (PersL) materials are in evidence nowadays due to their property of charge storage in the form of trapped electrons that are released slowly with time. Usually, PersL materials are applied in a range of applications from decoration objects to bioimaging. Here, persistent luminescence ZnGa 2 O 4 :Cr 3+ nanoparticles are demonstrated as persistent photocatalysts for hydrogen production, expanding the range of applications of this material. Synthesized via a solvothermal liquidsolid-solution route with oleic acid, the crystalline, monodisperse nanoparticles (∼10 nm) exhibit strong UV-C absorption and nearinfrared emission. Under UV-vis irradiation with triethanolamine as a sacrificial agent, they deliver substantial H 2 yields and show measurable postirradiation hydrogen evolution. Synchrotron-based XANES, XRF, and XEOL measurements reveal a homogeneous elemental distribution and show that excitation is primarily driven by the host lattice, with energy transfer to Cr 3+ centers rather than direct excitation of the dopant. EPR and Mott-Schottky analyses indicate that Cr-related states and defect-induced traps store photogenerated charges and release them gradually, while band structure measurements confirm that proton reduction is thermodynamically favorable. These findings highlight the potential of persistent luminescent materials to sustain photocatalytic hydrogen production beyond the illumination period, opening opportunities for further investigation of postillumination photocatalytic systems.
SN - 2574-0970
ER -