Photocatalytic H2 Generation Using Dewetted Pt-Decorated TiO2 Nanotubes: Optimized Dewetting and Oxide Crystallization by a Multiple Annealing Process

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• 作者：JeongEun Yoo ; Marco Altomare ; Mohamed Mokhtar ; Abdelmohsen Alshehri ; Shaeel A. Al-Thabaiti ; Anca Mazare ; Patrik Schmuki
• 刊名：Journal of Physical Chemistry C
• 出版年：2016
• 出版时间：July 28, 2016
• 年：2016
• 卷：120
• 期：29
• 页码：15884-15892
• 全文大小：536K
• 年卷期：0
• ISSN：1932-7455

文摘

In the present work we use TiO₂ nanotube arrays, deposit onto them a thin layer of Pt, dewet the Pt to nanoparticles, and use the structures as photocatalyst to generate H₂. In order to achieve a maximum H₂-generation efficiency, on the one hand an optimal thermal dewetting of the Pt layer is needed (this requires an oxygen-free heat treatment), and on the other hand an optimal crystallization of the TiO₂ nanotubes into a suitable crystalline oxide is required (achieved by annealing in an O₂-containing environment). To combine the two requirements, we provide an adequate multiple annealing treatment under reducing and oxidizing conditions and obtain Pt-nanoparticle-decorated TiO₂ nanotubes, composed of an anatase–rutile mixed phase, that show a significantly enhanced photocatalytic H₂ generation ability compared to tube layers that underwent any single-step annealing process.