The roles of metal co-catalysts and reaction media in photocatalytic hydrogen production: Performance evaluation of M/TiO2 photocatalysts (M = Pd, Pt, Au) in different alcohol-water mixtures

Al-Azri, ZHN; Chen, WanT; Chan, A; Jovic, V; Ina, T; Idriss, H; Waterhouse, GIN

HERO ID

3117774

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2015

HERO ID 3117774
In Press No
Year 2015
Title The roles of metal co-catalysts and reaction media in photocatalytic hydrogen production: Performance evaluation of M/TiO2 photocatalysts (M = Pd, Pt, Au) in different alcohol-water mixtures
Authors Al-Azri, ZHN; Chen, WanT; Chan, A; Jovic, V; Ina, T; Idriss, H; Waterhouse, GIN
Journal Journal of Catalysis
Volume 329
Page Numbers 355-367
Abstract M/TiO2 photocatalyst activity for H-2 production depends on both the metal co-catalyst (M) and the reaction medium. To quantify such effects, we compared the performance of M/TiO2 photocatalysts (M = Pd, Pt, Au) for H-2 production in different alcohol-water mixtures under UV excitation. Photocatalysts were prepared using Degussa P25 TiO2 at metal loadings of 0.5 and 1 wt.% for Pd, 1 wt.% for Pt and 1 wt.% for Au. TEM, UV-Vis, XPS and EXAFS analyses confirmed the presence of supported metal nanoparticles of size similar to 2, 1.3 and 5.4 nm for Pd/TiO2, Pt/TiO2 and Au/TiO2, respectively. Photoluminescence data established that the metal co-catalysts effectively suppressed electron-hole pair recombination in TiO2 following photo-excitation. The activities of the M/TiO2 photocatalysts for Hy production were evaluated in a wide range of alcohol-water mixtures (alcohol concentration 10 vol.%) under UV (365 nm, 5 mW cm(-2)). H-2 production rates in the alcohol-water mixtures were dependent on (i) the metal co-catalyst; (ii) the co-catalyst loading; and (iii) the alcohol type. Co-catalyst activity followed the order Pd > Pt approximate to Au. The highest Hy production rates were achieved for the 1 wt.% Pd/TiO2 photocatalyst in glycerol-water mixtures (47.5 mmol g(-1)h(-1)) and 1,2-ethanediol-water mixtures (44.5 mmol g(-1) h(-1)). H2 production rates decreased in the order glycerol > 1,2-ethanediol > 1,2-propanediol > methanol > ethanol > 2-propanol > tert-butanol >> water. For each M/TiO2 photocatalyst, correlations were established between the rate of H2 production and specific alcohol properties, especially alcohol polarity and the exponential of the alcohol oxidation potential. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Doi 10.1016/j.jcat.2015.06.005
Wosid WOS:000361250800034
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Keyword Hydrogen production; Photocatalysis; TiO2; Co-catalyst; Alcohols; Polarity