RuO2/TiSi2/graphene composite for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen generation under visible light irradiation

Abstract

A novel composite composed of TiSi(2), graphene and RuO(2) nanoparticles was fabricated by a one-pot deposition method using reduced graphene oxide (RGO) as a supporting matrix and RuCl(3) as the RuO(2) precursor. The resulting RuO(2)/TiSi(2)/RGO composite was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectra, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra, photoelectrical response and electrochemical impedance spectra. The results indicated that the three components in the composite were effectively contacted, thus facilitating the photogenerated charges transfer and separation through multiple routes. By using the composite as a photocatalyst for visible-light water splitting the average hydrogen production rate could reach 97.5 μmol h(-1) g(-1), which is higher than that from RuO(2)/TiSi(2) and pure TiSi(2) systems under the same conditions.

Enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution by combining water soluble graphene with cobalt salts

“…Further increasing the concentration of G-SO 3 resulted in a decrease in the amount of hydrogen generated. This phenomenon happened in many other reported works, which can be explained by the light shielding effect of graphene [61–63]. Varying the concentration of CoSO 4 , a similar tendency was observed.…”

WS2 as an Effective Noble-Metal Free Cocatalyst Modified TiSi2 for Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution under Visible Light Irradiation

“…The other two strong peaks, centred at 458.95 and 464.75 eV, could be ascribed to Ti 4+ 2p 3/2 and 2p 1/2 , respectively, demonstrating that the surface layer of TiSi 2 in the depth of XPS measurement (ca. 2.5-10 nm) is highly oxidized [14,15]. For the WS 2 -1/TiSi 2 -723 catalyst, the binding energy of Ti 4+ 2p shifts slightly to the higher energy and the peak of Ti 0 2p 3/2 disappeared, indicating that the Ti metal in the surface of Ti-Si has been oxidized in the pyrolysis process.…”

“…Demuth et al [14]. Using co-catalysts, such as RuO2 and graphene, can further enhance the photocatalytic activity of TiSi2-based catalyst, since electron-hole recombination is retarded [15].…”

Exfoliated carbon nitride nanosheets decorated with NiS as an efficient noble-metal-free visible-light-driven photocatalyst for hydrogen evolution

“…These facts demonstrate that the e-C 3 N 4 nanosheets in the nanocomposite may significantly improve the conductivity of the electrode, which in turn enhances the separation efficiency of photoinduced electrons and holes. 41 The flat band potentials (E fb ) of the nanocomposites were determined by the onset potential of the Mott-Schottky plots. 42 As shown in Fig.…”