Platinized
TiO2 photocatalysts of different compositions
of Pt0 and PtO2 were prepared by modifying the
synthesis procedures. The physicochemical properties of the composite
materials were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and
high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Energy dispersive
X-ray spectroscopy measurements confirmed the presence of Pt species
existing as PtO2 and/or mixtures of Pt0 and
PtO2. The composite material, Pt–TiO2–2%H, contained a high amount of metallic Pt0 and
PtO2 in close proximity with TiO2 that promoted
an enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity under simulated
solar light irradiation. Although Pt–TiO2–2%C
and Pt–TiO2–2%T consisted of similar compositions
of PtO2, these oxidized platinum species seem to appear
further apart from TiO2 in Pt–TiO2–2%C
than Pt–TiO2–2%T. This caused dramatic variation
in their optical behaviors such as strong fluorescence quenching and
lower photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity in the former photocatalyst.
A photocatalyst prepared by the conventional photodeposition method
was also prepared, characterized, and its photocatalytic activity
assessed. This work provides an opportunity to understand the role
of PtO2 for photocatalytic production of hydrogen from
platinized TiO2 composites and the importance of heterojunctions
in such photocatalysts for solar energy conversion.