A review of hydrogen production processes by photocatalytic water splitting – From atomistic catalysis design to optimal reactor engineering

‘Renewable energy is an essential part of our strategy of decarbonization, decentralization, as well as digitalization of energy.’ – Isabelle Kocher.Current climate, health and economic condition of our globe demands the use of renewable energy and the development of novel materials for the efficient generation, storage and transportation of renewable energy. Hydrogen has been recognised as one of the most prominent carriers and green energy source with challenging storage, enabling decarbonization. Photocatalytic H₂ (green hydrogen) production processes are targeting the intensification of separated solar energy harvesting, storage and electrolysis, conventionally yielding O₂/H₂. While catalysis is being investigated extensively, little is done on bridging the gap, related to reactor unit design, optimisation and scaling, be it that of material or of operation. Herein, metals, oxides, perovskites, nitrides, carbides, sulphides, phosphides, 2D structures and heterojunctions are compared in terms of parameters, allowing for efficiency, thermodynamics or kinetics structure–activity relationships, such as the solar-to-hydrogen (STH). Moreover, prominent pilot systems are presented summarily.     

Graphitic-C3N4/ZnCr-layered double hydroxide 2D/2D nanosheet heterojunction: Mesoporous photocatalyst for advanced oxidation of azo dyes with in situ produced H2O2

In this study the constructional modification of Graphitic carbon nitride nanosheet (GCN-ns) has been made with the aid of ZnCr layered double hydroxide (ZC-LDH) in a unique 2D-2D structure to enhance its visible light absorption. Optical and morphological study presents successful incorporation of ZC-LDH on the surface of GCN-ns. Through adjusting of GCN-ns by ZC-LDH lower recombination rate of e^?/h⁺ pairs, longer lifetimes and an increase in contamination reduction was brought out. The binary nanocomposite was employed to effectively degrade Rhodamine B under UV/vis light irradiation. The improvement in photocatalytic abilities was proven to be related to in situ self-production of H₂O₂ on GCN-ns/ZC-LDH surface by Xe light irradiation which in return accounts for additional hydroxide radical generation. Radical quenching experiments specified the main active species involved while the consequent step-scheme (S-scheme) charge transfer mechanism was proposed.     

Recent Advances in Conjugated Polymers for Visible-Light-Driven Water Splitting

With the ambition of solving the challenges of the shortage of fossil fuels and their associated environmental pollution, visible-light-driven splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen using semiconductor photocatalysts has emerged as a promising technology to provide environmentally friendly energy vectors. Among the current library of developed photocatalysts, organic conjugated polymers present unique advantages of sufficient light-absorption efficiency, excellent stability, tunable electronic properties, and economic applicability. As a class of rising photocatalysts, organic conjugated polymers offer high flexibility in tuning the framework of the backbone and porosity to fulfill the requirements for photocatalytic applications. In the past decade, significant progress has been made in visible-light-driven water splitting employing organic conjugated polymers. The recent development of the structural design principles of organic conjugated polymers (including linear, crosslinked, and supramolecular self-assembled polymers) toward efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution, oxygen evolution, and overall water splitting is described, thus providing a comprehensive reference for the field. Finally, current challenges and perspectives are also discussed.     

Fabrication of core–shell nanocomposites with enhanced photocatalytic efficacy

The current study establishes the unprecedented involvement in the evolution and production of novel core–shell nanocomposites composed of nanosized titanium dioxide and aniline‐o‐phenylenediamine copolymer. TiO₂@copoly(aniline and o‐phenylenediamine) (TiO₂@PANI‐o‐PDA) core–shell nanocomposites were chemically synthesized in a molar ratio of 5:1 of the particular monomers and several weights of nano‐TiO₂ via oxidative copolymerization. The construction of the TiO₂@PANI‐o‐PDA core–shell nanocomposites was ascertained from Fourier transform IR spectroscopy, UV–visible spectroscopy and XRD. A reasonable thermal behavior for the original copolymer and the TiO₂@PANI‐o‐PDA core–shell nanocomposites was investigated. The bare PANI‐o‐PDA copolymer was thermally less stable than the TiO₂@PANI‐o‐PDA nanocomposites. The core–shell feature of the nanocomposites was found to have core and shell sizes of 17 nm and 19–26 nm, respectively. In addition, it was found that the addition of a high ratio of TiO₂ nanoparticles increases the electrical conductivity and consequently lowers the electrical resistivity of the TiO₂@PANI‐o‐PDA core–shell nanocomposites. The hybrid photocatalysts exhibit a dramatic photocatalytic efficacy of methylene blue degradation under solar light irradiation. A plausible interpretation of the photocatalytic degradation results of methylene blue is also demonstrated. Our setup introduces a facile, inexpensive, unique and efficient technique for developing new core–shell nanomaterials with various required functionalities and colloidal stabilities. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry     

Covalent triazine framework with efficient photocatalytic activity in aqueous and solid media

Covalent triazine frameworks (CTFs) have been recently employed for visible light-driven photocatalysis due to their unique optical and electronic properties. However, the usually highly hydrophobic nature of CTFs, which originates from their overall aromatic backbone, leads to limitations of CTFs for applications in aqueous media. In this study, we aim to extend the range of the application media of CTFs and design hybrid material of a CTF and mesoporous silica (SBA-15) for efficient photocatalysis in aqueous medium. A thiophene-containing CTF was directly synthesized in mesopores of SBA-15. Due to the high surface area and the added hydrophilic properties by silica, the hybrid material demonstrated excellent adsorption of organic molecules in water. This leads not only to high photocatalytic performance of the hybrid material for the degradation of organic dyes in water, but also for efficient photocatalysis in solvent-free and solid state. Furthermore, the reusability, stability and easy recovery of the hybrid material offers promising metal-free heterogeneous photocatalyst for broader applications in different reaction media.     

Super-oleophilicity Co-doping Co2+/F-/TiO2 one-dimensional nanotubes for photocatalytic denitrification of light oil

In this study, a simple hydrothermal synthesis method was adapted for the preparation of Co-doping Co²⁺/F^-/TiO₂ nanotubes photocatalyst, and the micro-nano structure of catalysts prepared by biomimetic technology which makes the catalyst have super-oleophilicity property. Co²⁺/F^-/TiO₂ revealed improved photocatalytic performance for denitrification of light oil compared to single TiO₂ photocatalysts. The enhance of photocatalytic activity can be attributed to narrowing the band gap, increasing the light response wavelength and exposing more highly active crystal surfaces due to synergistic effects of Co²⁺ and F^? in the photocatalyst.     

掺杂Yb的TiO2光催化剂的制备和性能

采用溶胶-凝胶法制备了Yb掺杂TiO2纳米光催化剂,并通过XRD和BET等手段进行了表征.以对苯二甲酸作为探针分子,结合化学荧光技术研究了光催化剂表面羟基自由基的生成;并以苯酚为光催化降解反应模型化合物,考察了光催化剂的活性.测定了苯酚在TiO2和Yb掺杂TiO2光催化剂上的吸附常数.结果表明：Yb掺杂使TiO2的粒径减小,比表面积增大,同时导致羟基自由基的生成速率增大.Yb掺杂有利于反应底物在催化剂表面的吸附,Yb的最佳掺入量为Yb/Ti摩尔比=0.8%.     

臭氧氧化-光催化降解水中的五氯酚

利用臭氧氧化-光催化技术降解水中的有机污染物五氯酚(PCP)。对比了紫外光照射、臭氧氧化、光催化、臭氧氧化-光催化4种方法降解PCP的情况。考察了臭氧氧化-光催化体系中臭氧流量、臭氧产量、PCP初始质量浓度、pH和CO23-等因素对PCP降解率的影响。实验结果表明,臭氧氧化-光催化法比单独使用紫外光照射、臭氧氧化、光催化法更能有效的去除PCP;增加臭氧流量和臭氧产量有利于提高PCP的降解率;降低PCP的初始浓度,PCP的降解率显著提高;pH对PCP的降解效果影响不明显;CO23-的存在显著降低了PCP的降解率。在臭氧氧化-光催化体系中,除臭氧直接氧化降解PCP外,臭氧与TiO2协同作用产生的.OH对PCP的降解也起到了重要作用。     

TiO_2纤维的制备、表征及其光催化活性

采用常压乙二醇法制备出在可见光下具有较高催化活性的TiO2纤维。扫描电子显微镜表征结果表明,TiO2纤维直径为0.8～2.0μm、长度为5～25μm;BET比表面积和X射线衍射表征结果表明,随焙烧温度的升高,比表面积减小,TiO2纤维晶型逐渐由锐钛矿型向金红石型转变;紫外-可见漫反射光谱分析结果表明,TiO2纤维在可见光区有明显的吸收。在可见光下对甲基橙和苯酚的降解实验表明,焙烧温度为400℃时TiO2纤维的催化活性最好,对甲基橙和苯酚的降解率分别达到90.3%和84.0%;所制备的TiO2纤维比溶胶-凝胶法制备的锐钛矿型TiO2在可见光下具有更好的催化活性,原因是其能带间隙减小和吸收波长扩展到可见光区所致。