TY - JOUR

T1 - Copper-Modified Titania-Based Photocatalysts for the Efficient Hydrogen Production under UV and Visible Light from Aqueous Solutions of Glycerol

AU - Kurenkova, Anna Yu

AU - Yakovleva, Anastasiya Yu

AU - Saraev, Andrey A.

AU - Gerasimov, Evgeny Yu

AU - Kozlova, Ekaterina A.

AU - Kaichev, Vasily V.

N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (grant # 19-73-20020). Publisher Copyright: © 2022 by the authors.

PY - 2022/9

Y1 - 2022/9

N2 - In this study, we have proposed titania-based photocatalysts modified with copper compounds for hydrogen evolution. Thermal pre-treatment of commercial TiO2 Degussa P25 (DTiO2) and Hombifine N (HTiO2) in the range from 600 to 800 °C was carried out followed by the deposition of copper oxides (1–10 wt. % of Cu). The morphology and chemical state of synthesized photocatalysts were studied using X-ray diffraction, UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and XANES/EXAFS X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Photocatalytic activity was tested in the hydrogen evolution from aqueous solutions of glycerol under ultraviolet (λ = 381 nm) and visible (λ = 427 nm) light. The photocatalysts 2% CuOx/DTiO2 T750 and 5% CuOx/DTiO2 T700 showed the highest activity under UV irradiation (λ = 380 nm), with the rate of H2 evolution at the level of 2.5 mmol (H2) g−1 h−1. Under the visible light irradiation (λ = 427 nm), the highest activity of 0.6 mmol (H2) g−1 h−1 was achieved with the 5% CuOx/DTiO2 T700 photocatalyst. The activity of these photocatalysts is 50% higher than that of the platinized 1% Pt/DTiO2 sample. Thus, it was shown for the first time that a simple heat treatment of a commercial titanium dioxide in combination with a deposition of non-noble metal particles led to a significant increase in the activity of photocatalysts and made it possible to obtain materials that were active in hydrogen production under visible light irradiation.

AB - In this study, we have proposed titania-based photocatalysts modified with copper compounds for hydrogen evolution. Thermal pre-treatment of commercial TiO2 Degussa P25 (DTiO2) and Hombifine N (HTiO2) in the range from 600 to 800 °C was carried out followed by the deposition of copper oxides (1–10 wt. % of Cu). The morphology and chemical state of synthesized photocatalysts were studied using X-ray diffraction, UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and XANES/EXAFS X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Photocatalytic activity was tested in the hydrogen evolution from aqueous solutions of glycerol under ultraviolet (λ = 381 nm) and visible (λ = 427 nm) light. The photocatalysts 2% CuOx/DTiO2 T750 and 5% CuOx/DTiO2 T700 showed the highest activity under UV irradiation (λ = 380 nm), with the rate of H2 evolution at the level of 2.5 mmol (H2) g−1 h−1. Under the visible light irradiation (λ = 427 nm), the highest activity of 0.6 mmol (H2) g−1 h−1 was achieved with the 5% CuOx/DTiO2 T700 photocatalyst. The activity of these photocatalysts is 50% higher than that of the platinized 1% Pt/DTiO2 sample. Thus, it was shown for the first time that a simple heat treatment of a commercial titanium dioxide in combination with a deposition of non-noble metal particles led to a significant increase in the activity of photocatalysts and made it possible to obtain materials that were active in hydrogen production under visible light irradiation.

KW - anatase

KW - hydrogen evolution

KW - photocatalysis

KW - rutile

KW - titanium dioxide

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85138620489&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/c68b4fe4-b599-30e5-993a-93e108531b89/

U2 - 10.3390/nano12183106

DO - 10.3390/nano12183106

M3 - Article

C2 - 36144894

AN - SCOPUS:85138620489

VL - 12

JO - Nanomaterials

JF - Nanomaterials

SN - 2079-4991

IS - 18

M1 - 3106

ER -