PANI/NaTaO 3 composite photocatalyst for enhanced hydrogen generation under UV light irradiation

Abstract

A PANI/NaTaO 3 composite was successfully synthesized by an oxidative polymerization of aniline monomer in hydrochloric acid solution containing sodium tantalate. NaTaO 3 at a monoclinic structure was produced via hydrothermal method. The photocatalytic activities of the unmodified NaTaO 3 and PANI/NaTaO 3 were evaluated for hydrogen generation from an aqueous HCOOH solution and under UV light irradiation. The results showed that the evolution rate of H 2 increased significantly when NaTaO 3 was modified with PANI. The enhancement of the photocatalytic activity of PANI/NaTaO 3 composite was ascribed to the effective charge transfer and separation between NaTaO 3 and PANI, which reduced their recombination. This indicates that PANI modification of tantalate photocatalysts may open up a new way to prepare highly efficient catalytic materials for H 2 generation.