Effect of Pt loading and calcination temperature on the photocatalytic hydrogen production activity of TiO2 microspheres

Abstract

Abstract TiO 2 microspheres were synthesized by hydrothermal reaction using Ti(OBu) 4 as the precursor. In order to enhance the efficiency of water splitting by the TiO 2 microspheres, Pt-modified TiO 2 microspheres were prepared by the impregnation-reduction method. The diameter of TiO 2 microspheres is around 5–10 μm. The photocatalytic performances of the catalysts were measured by hydrogen generation from a mixture of water and methanol under UV light irradiation. The photocatalytic activity of the TiO 2 microspheres was remarkably enhanced by loading Pt. The optimal Pt loading is 1.2 wt%. Pt/TiO 2 microspheres exhibit about 125 times greater H 2 production rate than the unmodified TiO 2 microspheres. The effect of calcination temperature on photocatalytic activity of the TiO 2 microspheres was also investigated.