A Titanium Disilicide Derived Semiconducting Catalyst for Water Splitting under Solar Radiation—Reversible Storage of Oxygen and Hydrogen

Abstract

Divide and separate: Photocatalytic splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen is achieved with a catalyst which is formed on the surface of titanium dicilicide (see picture). The two product gases are reversibly physisorbed by the catalyst. Desorption of hydrogen occurs at ambient temperature, but oxygen is entirely stored up to 100 °C in light and can be released upon heating at this temperature in the dark, which allows convenient separation of the gases.