Superior solar-to-hydrogen energy conversion efficiency by visible light-driven hydrogen production via highly reduced Ti2+/Ti3+ states in a blue titanium dioxide photocatalyst

De Silva NL, Jayasundera ACA, Folger A, Kasian O, Zhang S, Yan CF, Scheu C, Bandara J (2018)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2018

Journal

Catalysis: Science and Technology Royal Society of Chemistry

Book Volume: 8

Pages Range: 4657-4664

Journal Issue: 18

DOI: 10.1039/c8cy01212a

Abstract

Photocatalytic water splitting is one of the most important renewable paths and a reliable hydrogen production system. In most successful molecular and supramolecular biomimetic hydrogen production methods, a photosensitizer and a catalyst were constructed where the photoexcited electron in the photosensitizer is transferred either inter- or intramolecularly to the catalytic centre. Similar to supramolecular complexes in a photocatalytic hydrogen production scheme, here we develop a redox system that contains Ti³⁺/Ti²⁺ reduced states in TiO2 which act as both visible light harvesting components and the catalytic sites for the catalytic hydrogen production with visible-near infrared photons. The Ti³⁺/Ti²⁺ states in TiO2 produce hydrogen from pure water with a solar-to-hydrogen energy conversion efficiency of 0.89% and a quantum yield of 43% at 655 nm. The mechanism of hydrogen production by the Ti³⁺/Ti²⁺ reduced states in TiO2 involves the initial generation of highly air stable and highly reduced Ti³⁺ and Ti²⁺ states in TiO2 by the formation of an AlOOH layer surrounding the anatase and rutile particles. Once Ti³⁺ and Ti²⁺ states are generated, these states are continuously self-generated via absorption of visible-near infrared radiation where hydrogen is produced by the transfer of electrons from Ti³⁺/Ti²⁺ to H⁺.

Involved external institutions

National Institute of Fundamental Studies (NIFS) Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka (LK) University of Peradeniya

Sri Lanka (LK) Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH (MPIE) / Max Planck Institute for Iron Research

Germany (DE) Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) / 中国科学院

China (CN)

How to cite

APA:

De Silva, N.L., Jayasundera, A.C.A., Folger, A., Kasian, O., Zhang, S., Yan, C.-F.,... Bandara, J. (2018). Superior solar-to-hydrogen energy conversion efficiency by visible light-driven hydrogen production via highly reduced Ti2+/Ti3+ states in a blue titanium dioxide photocatalyst. Catalysis: Science and Technology, 8(18), 4657-4664. https://doi.org/10.1039/c8cy01212a

MLA:

De Silva, Nuwan Lakshitha, et al. "Superior solar-to-hydrogen energy conversion efficiency by visible light-driven hydrogen production via highly reduced Ti2+/Ti3+ states in a blue titanium dioxide photocatalyst." Catalysis: Science and Technology 8.18 (2018): 4657-4664.

BibTeX: Download