Photocatalytic pure water splitting with high efficiency and value by Pt/porous brookite TiO2 nanoflutes

Abstract

We report the remarkable production of H2 and H2O2 from pure water using porous brookite TiO2 nanoflutes decorated with Pt nanoparticles through two-electron photocatalytic intermediate water splitting (PIWS). The H2 production rate from deionized water (pH ~7.0) was 9.8 ± 0.6 μmol mg−1 h−1, more than 12-fold and 230-fold higher than the reported TiO2-based photocatalytic overall water splitting (POWS) and H2/H2O2 production systems, respectively. The apparent quantum yields (AQY) value can achieve 43.4%, which is the highest value compared with the reported TiO2-based POWS systems and the commercial value for PIWS is ~9-fold higher than that for POWS even ignoring the separation cost. The mechanism of the distinct performance was confirmed by DFT and experimental measurements. The present work provides a feasible strategy to significantly improve the process efficiency and value of photocatalytic water splitting in both pure water and seawater using natural sunlight.