New insight into calcium tantalate nanocomposite photocatalysts for overall water splitting and reforming of alcohols and biomass derivatives

Abstract

The photocatalytic properties of different calcium tantalate nanocomposite photocatalysts with optimized phase composition were studied without the addition of any co-catalysts in the photoreforming of different alcohols including the biomass conversion by-product glycerol, as well as after modification with double-layered NiO x (Ni/NiO) co-catalyst in overall water splitting (OWS). Nanocomposite photocatalyst consisting of cubic α-CaTa 2 O 6 /orthorhombic β-CaTa 2 O 6 coexisting phases always possesses the highest photocatalytic performance. For overall water splitting, a loading of 0.5 wt. % NiO x exhibits the best activities with stable stoichiometric H 2 and O 2 evolution rates.