Visible-light-driven photocatalytic H₂ production from H₂O boosted by anchoring Pt and CdS nanoparticles on MoO₂

Abstract

Visible light-driven splitting of H₂O for H₂ offers a promising route for H₂ production. However, highly active catalysts are still needed to efficiently split H₂O into H₂ production. Herein, spherical MoO₂ was prepared by hydrothermal-annealing process, and the Pt loaded on MoO₂ was reduced using a room-temperature discharge-driven reduction process (RT-DR), we fabricated Pt/CdS/MoO₂ photocatalyst. Visible light-driven photocatalytic H₂ production from water was achieved on Pt/CdS/MoO₂. The highest catalytic efficiency was achieved when Pt loading was 0.25 wt % and RT-DR treatment time was 30 min, with the rate as high as 909.8 μmol∙h^–1. After a continuous 20-h photocatalytic test, the H₂ evolution rate could be maintained at 810 μmol∙h^–1. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis suggests changes of the valence state of Pt nanoparticles by room-temperature discharge-driven reduction process. In this work, the reduction of H₂O to H₂ has been studied by density functional theory calculation on MoO₂ (011) surfaces. On the surface, Pt²⁺ adsorbs H₂O and decomposes them, while Pt⁰ adsorbs H and synthesizes them into H₂, which allows the valence state regulation to have an important influence on the H₂ evolution rate.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Pt / photocatalysis / H₂O splitting

References

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