Photoassisted hydrogen generation: Pt and CdS supported on separate particles

A. Sobczynski, A. J. Bard, A. Campion, M. A. Fox, Thomas E. Mallouk, S. E. Webber, J. M. White

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

72 Scopus citations

Abstract

The visible light photoassisted production of hydrogen from methanol-water solutions containing mixtures of small particles of CdS/SiO2 and a platinized wide-band-gap semiconductor (TiO2, ZnO, SnO2, or WO3) separately supported on silica was studied. The activity is higher for these separately supported particles than for samples prepared by depositing the active materials together on the silica particles. The efficiency of hydrogen production is not dependent on the energy of the conduction band of the wide-band-gap metal oxide. Hence, we conclude that electron injection from the conduction band of CdS into the conduction band of the metal oxide is not an important pathway for charge transport to the Pt particles. These oxides do improve the hydrogen production activity of the platinum formed during photoplatinization. CdS/SiO2 particles attach to pellets of the platinized oxide and we propose on this basis that agglomeration of the separate oxide- and sulfide-containing particles is important for photoassisted hydrogen production.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3316-3320
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of physical chemistry
Volume91
Issue number12
StatePublished - Dec 1 1987

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Engineering
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

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