Visible-Light-Induced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation on Dye-Sensitized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube/Pt Catalyst

• Published in: Journal of physical chemistry. C Vol. 111; no. 30; pp. 11494 - 11499
• Main Authors: Li, Qiuye, Chen, Liang, Lu, Gongxuan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Chemical Society 02.08.2007
• ISSN: 1932-7447; 1932-7455
• DOI: 10.1021/jp072520n

Under visible light irradiation (λ ≥ 420 nm), photocatalytic water reduction for hydrogen generation was achieved over Eosin Y sensitized multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/Pt catalyst with triethanolamine (TEOA) as the electron donor. The highest apparent quantum yield reached 12.14%. Dilute HNO3 treated MWCNT catalyst exhibited a higher hydrogen generation rate than a concentrated HNO3 treated one. Characterization results indicated that HNO3 treatment led to formation of −COOH and −OH on MWCNT, which provided anchoring sites for Eosin Y. The results of photocurrent, photoluminescence, and photocatalytic experiments indicated that MWCNT trapped photogenerated electrons and inhibited the recombination of electron−hole pairs. MWCNT in catalyst might work as a charge-transfer carrier. The catalysts presented rather stable properties for hydrogen generation in a long-term run.