Cu2O‐Decorated Mesoporous TiO2 Beads as a Highly Efficient Photocatalyst for Hydrogen Production. Issue 1 (31st October 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cheng, Wei‐Yun; Yu, Tsung‐Hsuan; Chao, Kang‐Ju; Lu, Shih‐Yuan
• Is Part Of: ChemCatChem. Volume 6:Issue 1(2014:Jan.)
• Page Start: 293
• Page End: 300
• Publication Date: 2013-10-31
• Subjects: Catalysis -- Periodicals; 541.39505
• DOI: 10.1002/cctc.201300681
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1867-3880

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Cu₂O‐decorated mesoporous TiO₂ beads (MTBs) are developed as a low‐cost, highly efficient photocatalyst for H₂ production. MTBs with a high specific surface area of 189 m² g⁻¹, a large pore volume of 0.43 cm³ g⁻¹ and a suitable pore size of 8.9 nm are decorated with band‐structure‐matched Cu₂O nanocrystals through a simple, fast and low‐cost chemical bath deposition process. The Cu₂O nanocrystals serve as an electron–hole separation centre to promote H₂ evolution. Under optimal operation conditions, an ultra‐high specific H₂ evolution rate of 223 mmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹ is achieved. The success is attributed to the structural advantages of the MTBs of high specific surface areas, large pore volumes and suitable pore sizes together with the much improved electron–hole separation and light utilisation of the Cu₂O‐decorated MTBs. The H₂ evolution rates achieved with the Cu₂O‐decorated MTBs are one order of magnitude higher than those achieved by commercial P25 TiO₂.</p> </abstract>