Preparation and Modification of Y₂Cu₂O₅/Y₂O₃ Photocatalysts for H₂ Evolution under Simulated Sunlight Irradiation

Abstract:

Y₂Cu₂O₅/Y₂O₃ (YCO) photocatalysts were prepared using sol-gel method. The photocatalysts were modified by Pt particles to prepare Pt-loaded composite (Pt-YCO) using hydrogen reduction method, and NiO/YCO were synthesized by impregnation method. These obtained samples were characterized by thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and ultraviolet visible diffuse reflectance absorption spectra (UV-Vis DRS) techniques. Photocatalytic H₂ evolution activity of the modified photocatalysts has been evaluated from aqueous oxalic acid solution used as sacrificial reagent under simulated sunlight irradiation. The result showed that when the concentration of the photocatalysts is 0.8 g·L^-1， Pt-YCO photocatalyst exhibits higher photocatalytic activity compared with unloaded YCO. The hydrogen production rate is 4.12 mmol·h^-1·g^-1 with 1wt% loading amount of Pt, while the loading content is up to 2.5wt%, the hydrogen production rate of Pt-YCO photocatalyst deecreased instead. Whereas NiO/YCO composite exhibits less photocatalytic activity than that of pure YCO under the same conditions.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 239-242)
• Pages: 3001-3004
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.239-242.3001
• Online since: May 2011
• Authors: Li Zhang, Ke Long Huang, Hao Chen, Jian Hui Yan
• Keywords: Hydrogen Evolution, Photocatalytic, Simulated Sunlight, Y₂Cu₂O₅/y₂O₃

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