DNA@Mn(3)(PO(4))(2) Nanoparticles Supported with Graphene Oxide as Photoelectrodes for Photoeletrocatalysis

A novel deoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA)-based photoelectrode consisting of DNA@Mn(3)(PO(4))(2) nanoparticles on graphene oxide (GO) sheets was successfully fabricated for photoelectrocatalysis. DNA served as a soft template to guide the nucleation and growth of Mn(3)(PO(4))(2) nanoparticles in the synthesis of Mn(3)(PO(4))(2) nanoparticles. More importantly, the DNA also serves as semiconductor materials to adjust charge transport. Under UV light irradiation (180–420 nm, 15 mW/cm(2)), the photocurrent density of DNA@ Mn(3)(PO(4))(2)/GO electrodes reached 9 μA/cm(2) at 0.7 V bias (vs. SCE). An applied bias photon-to-current efficiency (ABPE) of ~0.18% can be achieved, which was much higher than that of other control electrodes (<0.04%). In this DNA-based photoelectrode, well-matched energy levels can efficiently improve charge transfer and reduce the recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s11671-016-1784-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.