Photocatalytic Applications for Hydrogen Production

Cu-CuO% nanoparticles (with a content of about 10 wt.%) on titania are effective for the production of hydrogen under sacrificial conditions [176-178], A fairly low concentration of Cu (2.5 wt.%) was sufficient to allow promising H2 production from ethanol-water and glycerol-water mixtures in the case of CuO% nanoparticles encapsulated into porous titania [179]. A key limitation of this system is photocorrosion under oxidizing conditions (oxygen and carboxylic adds as by-products of partial oxidation of the sacrificial agent). However, in the presence of UV irradiation, Cu photodeposition can occur, preventing loss of Cu [179]. 

Bare CuOx-supported nanostructures showed some activity in H 2 production from methanol-water mixture under UV-visible irradiation [180]. Ni is also used as a dopant, and small amounts (1 wt.%) of this element in mesoporous titania guarantee good activity in water-methanol mixtures under UV-visible light [181]. Indium-tantalum oxide Ni-doped materials also provided photocatalysts with promising efficiencies for direct water splitting [182]. TiOz nanotubes doped with Ir and Co nanopartides were effective for visible light water splitting even in the absence of 

Pt deposited on WS2-Ti02 mesoporous composites was used for visible-light production of H2 in the presence of Na2S as radical scavenger [188]. Pt-loaded mesoporous zirconium-titanium phosphates also displayed good photoactivity in hydrogen production from carbonate solution [189]. 

---