Effects of hydrothermal etching and conversion on photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and overall water splitting with nanoparticulate and mesoporous TiO₂ and SrTiO₃/TiO₂ composites

Title data

Schumacher, Lion ; Timm, Jana ; Marschall, Roland:
Effects of hydrothermal etching and conversion on photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and overall water splitting with nanoparticulate and mesoporous TiO₂ and SrTiO₃/TiO₂ composites.
In: Journal of Materials Chemistry A. Vol. 12 (2024) Issue 44 . - pp. 30768-30782.
ISSN 2050-7496
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TA03416C

Official URL:

Abstract in another language

TiO2 and SrTiO3 are well-studied semiconductors for photocatalytic H2 evolution and overall water splitting, respectively. Hydrothermal conversion of different TiO2 starting materials enables the synthesis of SrTiO3/TiO2 composites with various morphological designs, which have so far shown increases in photocatalytic H2 evolution activity. Herein, we address this phenomenon and the underlying influences of alkaline and pH-neutral media during hydrothermal conversion reactions by detailed material characterization of SrTiO3/TiO2 composites and etched TiO2. Trends in photocatalytic H2 evolution activities can be related directly to morphological factors, which in turn determine the influence of hydrothermal treatment. TiO2 nanoparticles are mainly subjected to agglomeration, while mesoporous TiO2 benefits from increasing hydrophilicity and a broadening of pore size distributions. Taken together, both influences lead to “pore activation” that strongly enhances photocatalytic H2 evolution activities. Simple hydrothermal treatment in diluted NaOH solution or even plain H2O might be a promising strategy to enhance photocatalytic activities of mesoporous TiO2 and potentially other mesoporous semiconductors, but more importantly, it also needs to be taken into account in the case of hydrothermal conversion reactions, since the subtle impact of the reaction medium may be overlooked or misinterpreted as a composite effect.

Further data

Item Type:	Article in a journal
Refereed:	Yes
Institutions of the University:	Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Chemistry > Chair Physical Chemistry III - Sustainable Materials for Solar Energy Conversion Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Chemistry > Chair Physical Chemistry III - Sustainable Materials for Solar Energy Conversion > Chair Physical Chemistry III - Sustainable Materials for Solar Energy Conversion - Univ.-Prof. Dr. Roland Marschall Faculties Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Chemistry
Result of work at the UBT:	Yes
DDC Subjects:	500 Science > 540 Chemistry
Date Deposited:	14 Nov 2024 06:41
Last Modified:	16 Jan 2025 08:09
URI:	https://eref.uni-bayreuth.de/id/eprint/91086