CuO/TiO2 Nanocomposites: Effect of Calcination on Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production

M. V. Shankar, D. Praveen Kumar, N. Lakshmana Reddy, M. Mamatha Kumari, B. Srinivas, V. Durga Kumari

Abstract


Hydrothermally synthesized TiO2 nanorods were subjected to calcination from 350 to 550 °C and tested their catalytic performance for hydrogen (H2) production in aqueous glycerol solution under solar irradiation. High rate of H2 evolution ca.300 µmol.h−1.g−1cat was recorded with TiO2 nanorods calcined at 500 °C. The nanocomposites were prepared by varying Cu-loading 0.1 to 2.0 wt% and activated at 350 or 500 °C. About 25 folds enhancement in H2 production rate was observed with 1.5% CuO/TiO2 nanorods than calcined ones. Catalyst characterization revealed that as-synthesized TiO2 material was nanorods with trititanate crystal structure. The optimized photocatalyst confirmed presence of copper in + 2 state and mixed crystal structure of TiO2(B) and anatase. Based on the experimental results high photocatalytic activity observed is due to improved crystallanity of TiO2 nanorods and CuO as well

Keywords


Nanorods, titanium dioxide, photocatalytic water splitting, biomass, solar fuel

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