Synergetic one-step synthesis of SiC/SiOC/TiO2 composites for visible-light-driven hydrogen generation from methanol reforming

Abstract

The photocatalysts area aims for feasible clean-renewable energy generation, targeting new low-cost and straightforward manufacturing of visible light-responsive materials by developing organic and inorganic novel composites. This work shows a novel approach, exploring three widely used commercially available powders (SiC, SiOC, and TiO2) to build a ternary-component system based on the polymer-derived ceramic (PDC) pathway. Furthermore, the results disclose the phases' interplay and synergetic effects that improve the composites' catalytic activity. The interaction between Si and Ti atoms in the composite system decreases the bandgap from 3.2 eV to 2.89 eV, increasing the ceramic yield from 51% to 86% while hindering the TiO2 anatase-to-rutile transformation. The SiC–SiOC–TiO2 interplay boosts the visible-light-driven hydrogen generation through photoreforming for hydrogen generation up to approximately 5-fold compared to pristine TiO2. In addition, the synthesis reported herein provides a straightforward and practical approach by increasing existing catalysts’ activity toward visible-light-driven hydrogen generation systems and facilitates further filtration processes.