High‐Efficiency Photocatalysis of Self‐Hydroxylated TiO2 Nanocrystals for Water Splitting. Issue 47 (18th December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yu, Siqi; Fan, Chenyao; Han, Bing; Qian, Guodong; Wang, Zhiyu
• Is Part Of: ChemistrySelect. Volume 4:Issue 47(2019)
• Page Start: 13998
• Page End: 14003
• Publication Date: 2019-12-18
• Subjects: Self-hydroxylated -- TiO2 -- nanoparticles -- photocatalysis -- hydrogen evolution; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1002/slct.201903773
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2365-6549

Abstract

Abstract: Herein, a facile and controllable strategy to synthesize self‐hydroxylated TiO2 nanocrystals with promoted photocatalytic activity in hydrogen evolution is demonstrated. Various colors (yellow, light yellow, blueish gray and gray) in appearance are induced by controlling the molar ratio of titanium source to oxidant during the hydrothermal treatment. Compared with commercial P25 TiO2 nanoparticles, the as‐obtained self‐hydroxylated TiO2 nanocrystals exhibit better photocatalytic performance in H2 evolution. Specifically, the maximum hydrogen evolution rate under solar light illumination (10.0 mmol/h/g) is 4.6 times superior to that of P25. The characterization results confirm the presence of abundant hydroxyls resulting from the hydrothermal treatment, which decreases the recombination rate of carriers and the energy barrier of hydrogen formation while facilitates light absorption for promoting photocatalytic performance. Abstract : Self‐hydroxylated TiO2 nanocrystals were prepared via hydrothermal method for promoted photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Regulating precursor molar ratio leads to high‐density hydroxyls. The maximum hydrogen evolution rate of the self‐hydroxylated TiO2 nanocrystals under solar light illumination (10.0 mmol/h/g) is 4.6 times superior to that of P25 TiO2 nanoparticles. The presence of abundant hydroxyls resulted from the hydrothermal treatment reduces the recombination rate of carriers and the energy barrier of hydrogen formation while facilitates light absorption for promoting photocatalytic performance.