Visible light – driven photocatalytic hydrogen production using Cu2O/TiO2 composites prepared by facile mechanochemical synthesis. Issue 3 (June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Muscetta, Marica; Jitan, Samar Al; Palmisano, Giovanni; Andreozzi, Roberto; Marotta, Raffaele; Cimino, Stefano; Di Somma, Ilaria
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental chemical engineering. Volume 10:Issue 3(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-06
• Subjects: Cu2O-TiO2 composite material -- Hydrogen production -- P-n heterojunction -- Sacrificial photocatalysis -- Photocatalyst preparation; Chemical engineering -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental engineering -- Periodicals; Chemical engineering -- Environmental aspects; Environmental engineering; Periodicals; 660.0286
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2022.107735
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2213-2929

Abstract

Abstract: A visible light – driven photocatalytic hydrogen production system was evaluated for methanol as a sacrificial agent using a Cu2 O/TiO2 composite material. A simple ball – milling method was proposed to prepare the Cu2 O/TiO2 photocatalyst, focusing on those factors influencing the photocatalytic system through a two-level 3-factorial design approach. The effect of the Cu2 O loading and the operating conditions (milling time and rotation rate) for the preparation method were analysed. 1% wt. of Cu2 O over TiO2 was identified as the best formulation for the composite catalyst, achieving a maximum hydrogen production of about 1 mmol/g after 5 h of irradiation. The quantum yield and the light to chemical conversion under visible light conditions for the best performing photocatalyst were 1.51% and 0.6%, respectively, which was about 1.5 – fold higher than that obtained in the presence of a simple mixture of the pure starting powders. Graphical Abstract: ga1 Highlights: A visible light – driven photocatalytic hydrogen production system was investigated. A facile ball – milling method was proposed to prepare Cu2 O/TiO2 photocatalyst. 1% wt. of Cu2 O with respect to TiO2 was identified as the best formulation for the composite catalyst. Light – to – chemical energy efficiency and quantum yield values were calculated.