Hydrogen treated Au/3DOM-TiO2 with promoted photocatalytic efficiency for hydrogen evolution from water splitting

Abstract

As one of the most promising photocatalysts for hydrogen production from water splitting, conventional TiO2 materials suffer from the low quantum yield and light absorption efficiency. The present study provided a strategy to improve efficiency of TiO2-based photocatalysts for hydrogen production from water splitting based on an interesting structure-property relationship. The hydrogen treated Au/TiO2 photocatalysts with three-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) structure were successfully synthesized and well characterized through various methods. The 3DOM-structure and Au modification can promote the hydrogenation of TiO2. The light absorption can be improved by slow photon effect of the 3DOM structure. And, in the meanwhile, the hydrogenation as well as Au modification can improve the photogenerated carrier separation. In addition, to understand how hydrogenation and Au modification promote electron migration and decrease carrier recombination, the electric band structure for hydrogen treated Au/3DOM-TiO2 was well studied and we found the local electron field enhancement, surface band bending and the generation of mid-gap state contributed most of enhancement.