Photocatalytic hydrogen generation of Pt-Sr(Zr_1-xY_x)O_3-δ-TiO₂ heterojunction under the irradiation of simulated sunlight

Abstract

The Pt-Sr(Zr_1-xY_x)O_3-δ-TiO₂ (Pt-SZYT) heterojunction photocatalysts were prepared by a photodeposition method. The composite particles were characterized by XRD, SEM, UV-Vis DRS, and PL techniques. Photocatalytic hydrogen generation in H₂C₂O₄ aqueous solution under the irradiation of simulated sunlight was used as a probe reaction to evaluate the photocatalytic activity of the photocatalysts. The effects of the content of Pt loading and the concentration of oxalic acid on the photocatalytic activity of the catalyst were discussed. The continuous photocatalytic activity of the Pt-SZYT and the relationship between PL intensity and hydrogen generation were also discussed. The results show that Pt-SZYT catalysts had high photocatalytic activity of hydrogen generation. The content of Pt loading and the concentration of oxalic acid have important influence on the photocatalytic hydrogen generation. The optimal loading content of platinum was 0.90 mass%. Under this condition, the average rate of photocatalytic hydrogen generation was 1.68 mmol•h^-1 when the concentration of oxalic acid was 50 mmol•L^-1. The higher the photocatalytic activity, the weaker the PL intensity, which was demonstrated by the analysis of PL spectra.

Keywords

heterojunction / photocatalysis / hydrogen generation / Pt / oxalic acid

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