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Tailoring the physicochemical properties and hence reactivity of semiconductor photocatalysts in a predictable fashion, remains a challenge to their industrial application. Here we demonstrate the striking promotional effect of incorporating single Cu(I) atoms, on aqueous phase photocatalytic dye degradation and H 2 production over surfactant-templated mesoporous TiO 2 . X-ray absorption spectroscopy reveals that ultra-low concentrations of copper (0.02-0.1 wt%) introduced into the mesoporous TiO 2 surface create isolated Cu (I) species which suppress charge recombination, and confer a six-fold photocatalytic promotion of Methyl Orange degradation and four-fold enhancement of H 2 evolution. The impact of mesopore structure and photophysical properties on photocatalytic activity is also quantified for the first time: calcination increases mesopore size and nanocrystalline order, and induces an anataserutile phase transition that is accompanied by a decrease in the optical band gap, increased charge carrier lifetime, and a concomitant significant activity enhancement.

Mesoporous silica supported Ni nanoparticles have been investigated for hydrogen production from ethanol steam reforming. Ethanol reforming is structure-sensitive over Ni, and also dependent on support mesostructure; three-dimensional KIT-6 possessing interconnected mesopores offers superior metal dispersion, steam reforming activity, and on-stream stability against deactivation compared with a twodimensional SBA-15 support.

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