Synthesis of Cu/S-TiO2 photocatalysts for hydrogen generation

Abstract

S-doped TiO2 was modified by Cu with methods of electroless plating, wet impregnation and chemical reduction respectively. The chemical properties of the prepared Cu/S-TiO2 were characterised by ultraviolet visible absorption spectrum (UV-Vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis (XPS) techniques. The results showed that copper species loaded by electroless copper plating and wet impregnation method were Cu2O/CuO, while Cu was detected in the sample prepared by chemical reduction method. The Cu/S-TiO2 prepared by electroless plating method showed excellent visible light absorption ability, and the catalyst exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity for hydrogen generation in methanol solution under simulated sunlight (420–500 nm).