Hydrogen production from photo splitting of water using the Ga-incorporated TiO2s prepared by a solvothermal method and their characteristics

Abstract

This study investigated the production of hydrogen over Ga (1.0, 2.0, and 5.0 mol%)-TiO2 photocatalysts prepared by a solvothermal method. The absorption band was slightly blue-shifted upon the incorporation of the gallium ions, but the intensity of the photoluminescence (PL) curves of Ga-incorporated TiO2s was distinguishably smaller, with the smallest case being the 2.0 mol% Ga-TiO2, which was related to the recombination between the excited electrons and holes. H2 evolution from photo splitting of water over Ga-incorporated TiO2 in the liquid system was enhanced, compared to that over pure TiO2; particularly, the production of 5.6 mL of H2 gas after 8 h when 1.5 g of the 2.0 mol% Ga-incorporated TiO2 was used.