Deposition of platinum on boron-doped TiO₂/Ti nanotube arrays as an efficient and stable photocatalyst for hydrogen generation from water splitting

Abstract

An efficient photocatalyst of boron-doped titanium dioxide/titanium nanotube array-supported platinum particles (Pt-B/TiO 2 /Ti NTs) was fabricated for photocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen production through a two-step route. First, B/TiO 2 /Ti NTs were prepared by anodic oxidation using hydrofluoric acid as electrolyte and boric acid as a B source. Then, Pt particles were deposited on the surface of B/TiO 2 /Ti NTs by photo-assisted impregnation reduction. The structure and properties of Pt-B/TiO 2 /Ti NTs were characterized by various physical measurements which showed the successful fabrication of Pt-B/TiO 2 /Ti NTs. The Pt-B/ TiO 2 /Ti NTs, with a B-doping content of 15 mmol L À1 , showed the highest photocatalytic activity and exhibited a photocatalytic hydrogen-production rate of 384.9 mmol g À1 h À1 , which was 9.2-fold higher than that of unmodified TiO 2 /Ti NTs (41.7 mmol g À1 h À1 ). This excellent photocatalytic performance was ascribed mainly to the synergistic effect of Pt and B, which could enhance the photocatalytic activity of TiO 2 /Ti NTs.

Bandgap engineering via boron and sulphur doped carbon modified anatase TiO2: a visible light stimulated photocatalyst for photo-fixation of N2 and TCH degradation

“…The first one is related to the B atom going into the TiO 2 lattice and replaces the oxygen site to form O–Ti–B bond. 38 However, the higher one is attributed to the Ti–O–B bond. 41 Again, the elemental composition, as shown in the XPS of each sample, is well supported by the EDX and colour mapping images discussed in the respective sections.…”

“…36 For B-doped CT, the peaks positioned at 530.35 eV correspond to the Ti-O and Ti-O-B bonds and the peak centred at 532.48 eV arises due to the B-O-B and surface adsorbed water, while the peak centred at 531.1 eV indicates the displacement of oxygen in the TiO 2 lattice. 37,38 Similarly, Fig. 2c, f and j displays the C 1s spectra of CT and doped CT.…”

A review on the recent advances in the design and structure–activity relationship of TiO2-based photocatalysts for solar hydrogen production

“…15,108 The addition of non-metal dopants in the TiO 2 matrix may generate structural defects in the material, impurity energy level formation, and hence narrowing of the band gap, and also beneficial for overcoming the disadvantages such as carrier trapping and thermal instability that are often encountered with metal nanoparticles. 109–112 Nitrogen is one of the most studied anion dopant because of several advantageous aspects, such as its similar atomic size with oxygen, formation of metastable energy states and considerable overlap of the N 2p and O 2p states, resulting in bandgap narrowing and smooth excitation of electrons between the valence band and conduction band. 113,114 Fig.…”