High-density platinum nanoparticle-decorated titanium dioxide nanofiber networks for efficient capillary photocatalytic hydrogen generation

Abstract

Aldehyde-functionalized cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) were applied to synthesize Pt nanoparticles (NPs) on CNF surfaces via on-site Pt ion reduction and achieve high concentration and uniform Pt NP loading. ALD could then selectively deposit TiO₂ on CNFs and keep the Pt NPs uncovered due to their drastically different hydro-affinity properties. The high-temperature ALD process also simultaneously improved the crystallinity of Pt NPs and decomposed the CNF template leaving a pure anatase phase TiO₂ nanofiber network decorated with high-density Pt NPs (up to 11.05 wt%). The as-prepared fibrous Pt–TiO₂ network photocatalyst was integrated with CNF strips to develop a capillary setup for photocatalyzed hydrogen generation. Better reaction kinetics and higher efficiency were achieved from the capillary design compared to conventional in-electrolyte reactions. The initial H₂ generation rates were 100.56–138.69 mmol g
^-1 h
^-1 from the capillary setup based on different Pt NP loadings, which were 123.3–288.6% larger than those of the in-electrolyte setup (25.88–62.11 mmol g
^-1 h
^-1). This 3D nanofibrous Pt–TiO₂ capillary photocatalyst offers a brand new solution for improving the throughput of photocatalytic hydrogen production.

Citation

Li, Zhaodong; Yao, Chunhua; Wang, Yi-Cheng; Mikael, Solomon; Gunasekaran, Sundaram; Ma, Zhenqiang; Cai, Zhiyong; Wang, Xudong. 2016. High-density platinum nanoparticle-decorated titanium dioxide nanofiber networks for efficient capillary photocatalytic hydrogen generation. Journal of Materials Chemistry A. 4(30): 11672-11679.