Efficient hydrogen evolution over Sb doped SnO2 photocatalyst sensitized by Eosin Y under visible light irradiation

• Published in: Nano energy 2017-06, Vol.36, p.331-340
• Main Authors: Yang, Liuqing, Huang, Jianfeng, Shi, Li, Cao, Liyun, Zhou, Wei, Chang, Kun, Meng, Xianguang, Liu, Guigao, Jie, Yanni, Ye, Jinhua
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Eosin Y sensitization; Hydrogen evolution; Photocatalysis; Sb doped SnO2; Water splitting
• ISSN: 2211-2855
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2017.04.039

Developing new efficient visible-light-responsive and noble-metal-free photocatalysts to produce hydrogen, as a clean, abundant and renewable future energy source, independent of fossil reserves, is highly needed. For the first time, the efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production from an Eosin Y (EY)-sensitized Sb doped SnO2 system without any noble metal co-catalyst under visible light is reported here. It is worth noting that the doping amount of Sb in SnO2 has a great influence on the photocatalytic H2 evolution activity in this EY-sensitized photocatalytic system. After sensitization by EY, the optimum photocatalytic H2 evolution activity under visible light can be achieved by 0.39at% Sb doped SnO2 and reaches 49.94μmolh-1, which is 2.02 times higher than 24.71μmolh-1 of non-doped SnO2 and also superior to most of the reported dye-sensitized noble-metal-free photocatalysts. Mechanism study indicates that doping Sb in SnO2 can induce bandgap narrowing, defects formation and conductivity enhancement, which play competitive roles in the photocatalytic H2 evolution. [Display omitted] •EY sensitized Sb doped SnO2 for efficient photocatalytic H2 evolution under visible light was achieved for the first time.•Photocatalytic activity of EY sensitized Sb doped SnO2 can be enhanced by appropriate Sb doping content.•Bandgap, defect and conductivity modulation induced by Sb doping play vital roles in the photocatalytic H2 evolution.