Influence of reaction parameters for the enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production using surface modified semiconductor Titania nanotubes

Abstract

The physico-chemical properties of the photocatalyst and nature of reaction solution significantly influences the hydrogen (H2) production efficiency. The reaction parameters like Hydrogen ion concentration (pH) and nature of organic scavengers are aimed to amend the physico-chemical properties of catalyst that functions under natural solar light. CuO (1.5 wt %) loaded titania nanotubes (TNT) was used as a photocatalyst. The lower in the carbon chain length of alcohol (scavenger) and the alkaline reaction conditions are complimentary to each other for the superior rate of H2 production. The enhancement in H2 production is due to the effective interface reactions on the surface of the catalyst are more in number and the most suitable reduction potential of the conduction band of the photocatalyst for the ease of proton reduction. The 1.5 wt% CuO/TNT catalyst was well characterized for structural, morphological and surface elemental composition properties. Further biphasic anatase-rutile structure and one dimensional tubular morphology with +2 state of Cu deposited on the surface of TiO2 are responsible for high rate of gaseous H2 production.