Effect of Titania Regular Macroporosity on the Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution on Cd_1−<i>x</i>Zn_<i>x</i>S/TiO₂ Catalysts under Visible Light

Abstract

Abstract Multiphase photocatalysts Cd 1− x Zn x S/TiO 2 were synthesized through the deposition of solid solutions of cadmium and zinc sulfides on the surface of titania samples with different porous structures, including a 3D‐ordered meso/macroporous structure. The photocatalysts were characterized by a wide range of experimental techniques: X‐ray diffraction, high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy combined with energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, N 2 adsorption at 77 K, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and UV/VIS spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity was tested in a batch reactor for the H 2 evolution reaction from aqueous solutions of Na 2 S/Na 2 SO 3 under visible‐light irradiation ( λ =450 nm). The highest achieved photocatalytic activity was 1.8 mmol H 2 per gram of photocatalyst per hour. The regular porous structure of titania was demonstrated to enhance the photocatalytic activity and stability of Cd 0.4 Zn 0.6 S/TiO 2 samples.