Controlled synthesis of Pt-loaded yolk–shell TiO<sub>2</sub>@SiO<sub>2</sub> nanoreactors as effective photocatalysts for hydrogen generation

doi:10.1007/s11706-022-0591-y

Front. Mater. Sci.

2022, Vol. 16

Issue (1) : 220591 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11706-022-0591-y

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Controlled synthesis of Pt-loaded yolk–shell TiO₂@SiO₂ nanoreactors as effective photocatalysts for hydrogen generation

Min SHI, Niannian HU, Haimei LIU, Cheng QIAN, Chang LV, Sheng WANG(

)

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China

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Abstract

Yolk–shell and hollow structures are powerful platforms for controlled release, confined nanocatalysis, and optical and electronic applications. This contribution describes a fabrication strategy for a yolk–shell nanoreactor (NR) using a post decoration approach. The widely studied yolk–shell structure of silica-coated TiO₂ (TiO₂@SiO₂) was used as a model. At first, anatase TiO₂ spheres were prepared, and subsequently were given a continuous coating of carbonaceous and silica layers. Finally, the carbonaceous layer was removed to produce a yolk–shell structure TiO₂@SiO₂. By using an in-situ photodeposition method, Pt-encased spheres (Pt-TiO₂@SiO₂) were synthesized with Pt nanoparticles grown on the surface of the TiO₂ core, which contained void spaces suitable for use as NRs. The NR showed enhanced hydrogen production with a rate of 24.56 mmol·g⁻¹·h⁻¹ in the presence of a sacrificial agent under simulated sunlight. This strategy holds the potential to be extended for the synthesis of other yolk–shell photocatalytic NRs with different metal oxides.

Keywords nanoreactor TiO₂ SiO₂ photocatalyst hydrogen generation

Corresponding Author(s): Sheng WANG

About author:

Miaojie Yang and Mahmood Brobbey Oppong contributed equally to this work.

Issue Date: 06 April 2022

Cite this article:

Min SHI,Niannian HU,Haimei LIU, et al. Controlled synthesis of Pt-loaded yolk–shell TiO₂@SiO₂ nanoreactors as effective photocatalysts for hydrogen generation[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2022, 16(1): 220591.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/foms/EN/10.1007/s11706-022-0591-y
https://academic.hep.com.cn/foms/EN/Y2022/V16/I1/220591

Fig.1 Schematic illustration of the fabrication process of the Pt-TiO₂@SiO₂ NR.

Fig.2 SEM images (top) and TEM images (middle) of corresponding samples: (a)(e) TiO₂; (b)(f) TiO₂@C; (c)(g) TiO₂@C@SiO₂; (d)(h) TiO₂@SiO₂ spheres. (i) HAADF-STEM image of TiO₂@SiO₂ spheres.

Fig.3 EDX results of the samples obtained at different synthetic process: (a) TiO₂ spheres; (b) TiO₂@C; (c) TiO₂@C@SiO₂; (d) TiO₂@SiO₂.

Fig.4 (a) XRD patterns of samples obtained at different synthetic processes: TiO₂ spheres, TiO₂@C, TiO₂@C@SiO₂, and TiO₂@SiO₂. (b) N₂ adsorption–desorption isotherms and the corresponding pore-size distribution plot (inset) of TiO₂@SiO₂.

Fig.5 (a)(b) TEM images and (c) the corresponding EDX spectrum of Pt-TiO₂@SiO₂. (d)(e) HAADF-STEM image of the Pt-TiO₂@SiO₂ sphere and the mapping results of Pt-TiO₂@SiO₂ with Si, Ti, and Pt. (f) Overlay image of the corresponding mapping image in panel (e).

Fig.6 XRD patterns of TiO₂@SiO₂ and Pt-TiO₂@SiO₂. Vertical green and purple bars correspond to theoretical diffraction patterns of anatase-TiO₂ and Pt, respectively.

Fig.7 (a) UV–vis DRS results of TiO₂, TiO₂@SiO₂, and Pt-TiO₂@SiO₂. (b) Photocatalytic hydrogen production the over different samples under simulated sunlight for 3 h (the Pt content is 2% relative to the mass of TiO₂). (c) H₂ production of the Pt-TiO₂@SiO₂ NR at different irradiation time. (d) Schematic illustration of electron transfer pathways for the hydrogen production over the Pt-TiO₂@SiO₂ NR.

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