Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production Activity Driven by TiO₂/(MoP/CdS): Insights from Powder Particles to Thin...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Photocatalysis
• Renewable Energy

Background:

• Industrialization of photocatalytic hydrogen production requires transitioning from powder to thin film photocatalysts.
• Development of efficient and stable photocatalysts is crucial for sustainable hydrogen generation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and synthesize a novel composite photocatalyst, TiO2/(MoP/CdS), for enhanced ultraviolet-visible light utilization.
• To evaluate the photocatalytic hydrogen production performance of both powder and thin film forms of the synthesized material.
• To investigate the factors contributing to the high photocatalytic activity and stability.

Main Methods:

• Integration of non-noble metal cocatalyst Molybdenum Phosphide (MoP) with Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) and Cadmium Sulfide (CdS) to form TiO2/(MoP/CdS) composites.
• Fabrication of thin films from the developed TiO2/(MoP/CdS) powder.
• Assessment of photocatalytic hydrogen production rates under UV-Vis light irradiation.
• Long-term stability testing of the thin film photocatalyst.

Main Results:

• The powder TiO2/(MoP/CdS) composite achieved a hydrogen production rate of 42.2 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹, significantly outperforming TiO2/CdS.
• The fabricated thin film exhibited comparable activity (35.5 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹) and maintained stability for 150 hours.
• The enhanced performance is attributed to broad light absorption and the synergistic effect of the TiO2/CdS heterojunction.

Conclusions:

• The developed TiO2/(MoP/CdS) composite is a highly efficient photocatalyst for hydrogen production.
• The thin film fabrication demonstrates potential for scalable industrial applications.
• This cost-effective catalyst offers a promising solution for sustainable hydrogen energy.