TiO2-supported copper nanoparticles prepared via ion exchange for photocatalytic hydrogen production

Abstract

Ion exchange (IE) has been used to prepare Cu/TiO₂ for photocatalytic hydrogen generation. The IE Cu/TiO₂ particles comprised a mixture of large and fine copper/copper oxide deposits which were well dispersed across the TiO₂ surface. Hydrogen generation photoactivity by the IE Cu/TiO₂ was ∼44% greater than the activity displayed by Cu/TiO₂ prepared via wet impregnation (WI) at a similar copper loading. Temperature programmed reduction studies indicated the IE Cu/TiO₂ possessed a greater portion of highly dispersed fine copper deposits than the WI Cu/TiO₂ which may account for the higher photoactivity. The hydrogen generation activity of IE Cu/TiO₂ was maintained over three 5 h reaction cycles.