Abstract
Photocatalyzed hydrogen evolution on Pt-loaded CdS powder from aqueous solutions of sodium sulfite is enhanced by addition of a small amount of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) to the solution. EDTA is hardly consumed by the reaction. It has been concluded from the measurements of the flat-band potential of CdS electrodes that EDTA and other chelating agents, such as 1,2-cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid and nitrilotriacetic acid, are adsorbed strongly on the surface of CdS and shift the conduction band energy toward the negative. The enhancement of the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution by the addition of EDTA is explained as being caused by the upward shift of the conduction band energy of CdS due to the negative charge of the chelating agents. The change of the conduction band energy by the adsorption of EDTA is observed also for CdSe electrodes. Although Pt-loaded CdSe powder is inactive for the hydrogen evolution from aqueous solutions of sodium sulfite, it generates hydrogen when EDTA is added to the solution.
Published Version
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