Sol-gel synthesis of Er3+:Y3Al5O12/TiO2Ta2O5/MoO2 composite membrane for visible-light driving photocatalytic hydrogen generation. (29th June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhou, Ying; Wei, Shengnan; Li, Siyi; Liu, Xudong; Shu, Xiaoqing; Zhang, Xu; Zhao, Cheng; Qu, Zepeng; Fang, Dawei; Zhang, Zhaohong; Wang, Jun
• Is Part Of: International journal of hydrogen energy. Volume 42:Number 26(2017)
• Page Start: 16362
• Page End: 16374
• Publication Date: 2017-06-29
• Subjects: Er3+:Y3Al5O12/TiO2Ta2O5/MoO2 composite membrane -- Visible-light driven photocatalyst -- Photocatalytic hydrogen generation -- Sol-gel synthesis -- Water splitting; Hydrogen as fuel -- Periodicals; Hydrogène (Combustible) -- Périodiques; Hydrogen as fuel; Periodicals; 665.81
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2017.05.213
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-3199

Abstract

Abstract: By using TiO2 and Ta2 O5 colloids, a stable and efficient visible-light driven photocatalyst, Er 3+ :Y3 Al5 O12 /TiO2 Ta2 O5 /MoO2 composite membrane, was successfully prepared via sol–gel dip coating method at room temperature. The XRD, FTIR, SEM, TEM and EDX results confirm that approximately spherical Er 3+ :Y3 Al5 O12 nanoparticles were embedded in TiO2 Ta2 O5 matrix. UV–vis absorption and PL spectra of Er 3+ :Y3 Al5 O12 were also determined to confirm the visible absorption and ultraviolet emission. The photocatalytic hydrogen generation was carried out by using methanol as sacrificial reagent in aqueous solution under visible-light irradiation. Furthermore, some main influence factors such as heat-treated temperature, heat-treated time and molar ratio of TiO2 and Ta2 O5 on visible-light photocatalytic hydrogen generation activity of Er 3+ :Y3 Al5 O12 /TiO2 Ta2 O5 /MoO2 composite membrane were studied in detail. The experimental results showed that the photocatalytic hydrogen generation activity of Er 3+ :Y3 Al5 O12 /TiO2 Ta2 O5 /MoO2 composite membrane heat-treated at 550 °C for 3.0 h was highest when the molar ratio of TiO2 and Ta2 O5 was adopted as 1.00:0.50. And that a high level photocatalytic activity can be still maintained after four cycles. In addition, a possible mechanism for the visible-light photocatalytic hydrogen generation of the Er 3+ :Y3 Al5 O12 /TiO2 Ta2 O5 /MoO2 membrane was proposed based on PL spectra. Highlights: Er:YAG/TiO2 Ta2 O5 /MoO2 membrane was prepared as visible-light driven photocatalyst. Er:YAG/TiO2 Ta2 O5 /MoO2 can effectively perform photocatalytic H2 evolution. Presence of Er:YAG can obviously expand the light response range of TiO2 Ta2 O5 . Use of MoO2 can be conducive to separation of photo-generated electron and hole.