Photocatalytic pure water splitting with high efficiency and value by Pt/porous brookite TiO2 nanoflutes

• Published in: Nano energy 2020-01, Vol.67 (C), p.104287, Article 104287
• Main Authors: Cao, Shuang, Chan, Ting-Shan, Lu, Ying-Rui, Shi, Xinghua, Fu, Bing, Wu, Zhijiao, Li, Hongmei, Liu, Kang, Alzuabi, Sarah, Cheng, Ping, Liu, Min, Li, Tao, Chen, Xiaobo, Piao, Lingyu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Hydrogen peroxide; Hydrogen production; INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; Photocatalytic water splitting; Porous brookite TiO2 nanoflutes; Seawater
• ISSN: 2211-2855
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2019.104287

We report the remarkable production of H2 and H2O2 from pure water using porous brookite TiO2 nanoflutes decorated with Pt nanoparticles through two-electron photocatalytic intermediate water splitting (PIWS). The H2 production rate from deionized water (pH ~7.0) was 9.8 ± 0.6 μmol mg−1 h−1, more than 12-fold and 230-fold higher than the reported TiO2-based photocatalytic overall water splitting (POWS) and H2/H2O2 production systems, respectively. The apparent quantum yields (AQY) value can achieve 43.4%, which is the highest value compared with the reported TiO2-based POWS systems and the commercial value for PIWS is ~9-fold higher than that for POWS even ignoring the separation cost. The mechanism of the distinct performance was confirmed by DFT and experimental measurements. The present work provides a feasible strategy to significantly improve the process efficiency and value of photocatalytic water splitting in both pure water and seawater using natural sunlight. [Display omitted] •Remarkable photocatalytic production of H2 and H2O2 from pure water (PIWS).•The new porous brookite TiO2 nanoflutes show superior PIWS efficiency.•The PIWS pathway proceeds by a kinetically favorable two-electron reaction.•The commercial value for PIWS is ~9-fold higher than H2/O2 production systems.