TiO2 Nanotubes/MWCNTs Nanocomposite Photocatalysts: Synthesis, Characterization and Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Under UV-Vis Light Illumination

Journal Article · Thu Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 2012 · Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1166/jnn.2012.5161· OSTI ID:1047380

Li, Hao-Peng; Zhang, Xiao-Yan; Cui, Xiao-Li; Lin, Yuehe

Nanocomposite of TiO2 nanotubes (TiO2NTs) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) has been synthesized by a hydrothermal method and firstly used in photocatalytic hydrogen production. The obtained TiO2 NTs/MWCNTs composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectrum and ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The experimental results revealed that the MWCNTs were decorated with well dispersed anatase TiO2 nanotubes with a diameter of 8-15 nm. A slight blue shift and weak symmetry was observed for the strongest Raman peak which resulted from strain gradients originating from interface integration between TiO2 nanotubes and MWCNTs. The photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared samples was evaluated by hydrogen evolution from water splitting using Na2S and Na2SO3 as sacrificial reagents under UV-vis light irradiation. Enhanced photocatalytic activity compared with P25 has been observed for the resulted samples. The nanocomposite with optimized MWCNTs content of 1% displayed a hydrogen production rate of 161 u mol/h/g. Good photocatalytic stability of the as-synthesized samples was observed as well.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1047380
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-84850; TRN: US201216%%239
• Journal Information: Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Vol. 12, Issue 3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

08 HYDROGEN
77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
CARBON
HYDROGEN
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
ILLUMINANCE
INTERFACES
INTERSTITIAL HYDROGEN GENERATION
IRRADIATION
NANOTUBES
REAGENTS
SPECTROSCOPY
STABILITY
STRAINS
SYMMETRY
SYNTHESIS
TITANIUM OXIDES
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
carbon nanotubes
TiO2