Enhancement of photocatalytic hydrogen production by liquid phase plasma irradiation on metal-loaded TiO2/carbon nanofiber photocatalysts

Abstract

Enhanced hydrogen production by photocatalytic decomposition was assessed using liquid phase plasma over metal-loaded photocatalysts. Effects of irradiation of the liquid phase plasma were evaluated in the photocatalytic hydrogen production of hydrogen. Carbon nanofiber was introduced as photocatalytic support for the Ni-loaded TiO2 photocatalyst. The influence of addition of organic reagents into water on hydrogen evolution was also evaluated. The photocatalytic decomposition by irradiation of the liquid phase plasma without photocatalyst produced some hydrogen evolution. The rate of hydrogen evolution was improved by the metal loading on the TiO2 surface. The carbon nanofiber acted as a useful photocatalytic support for the fixation of TiO2. Hydrogen evolution was enhanced by the Ni loading on the TiO2 nanocrystallites supported on the carbon nanofiber support. Hydrogen evolution was increased significantly by the addition of organic reagents, which acted as a type of sacrificial reagent promoting photocatalysis.