Enhanced Hydrogen Production by Photoreforming of Renewable Oxygenates Through Nanostructured Fe₂O₃ Polymorphs

Abstract

Sunlight‐driven hydrogen production via photoreforming of aqueous solutions containing renewable compounds is an attractive option for sustainable energy generation with reduced carbon footprint. Nevertheless, the absence of photocatalysts combining high efficiency and stability upon solar light activation has up to date strongly hindered the development of this technology. Herein, two scarcely investigated iron(III) oxide polymorphs, β‐ and ε‐Fe 2 O 3 , possessing a remarkable activity in sunlight‐activated H 2 generation from aqueous solutions of renewable oxygenates (i.e., ethanol, glycerol, glucose) are reported. For β‐Fe 2 O 3 and ε‐Fe 2 O 3 , H 2 production rates up to 225 and 125 mmol h −1 m −2 are obtained, with significantly superior performances with respect to the commonly investigated α‐Fe 2 O 3 .