A novel and highly efficient photocatalyst, Eosin Y-sensitized Pt-intercalated nanotube Pt/HLa Nb2O7, was found to be very active for hydrogen generation within triethanolamine (TEOA) solution as the electron donor under visible-light irradiation (λ420 nm). The photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS), scan electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). The results showed that the significant enhancement of photocatalytic activity was achieved via Pt intercalating and subsequent dye sensitization of Pt/HLaNb2O7. The highest rate for hydrogen evolution was 4.45 mmol·g-1·h-1under irradiation with a wavelength longer than 420 nm, and the probable mechanism of photosensitized hydrogen evolution have also been discussed.
TiOxNy/TiO2 Photocatalyst for Hydrogen Evolution under Visible-Light Irradiation. I: Characterization of N in TiOxNy/TiO2 Photocatalyst