Structure–activity relationship in Ti phosphate-derived photocatalysts for H2 evolution

Abstract Photocatalytic H 2 production has emerged as one of the most clean and promising renewable energy sources. In spite of the efforts to obtain efficient photocatalysts able to produce H 2 from Sun light and water, there is still the need to prepare cheaper and environmental friendlier photocatalysts. Phosphate-based materials could be good candidates to fulfill these requirements. In this manuscript we have prepared a set of mixed Ti 3+ /Ti 4+ valence, open-framework titanium phosphates ( of- TiPO 4 ) and mixed titanium oxide/phosphate derivatives ( cr -TiP), correlating their structure and composition with the photocatalytic activity for H 2 production. We determined that mixed titanium oxide/phosphate crystalline phases produced enhanced H 2 evolution under Sun simulated light irradiation than mixed Ti 3+ /Ti 4+ valence, open-framework titanium phosphates and titanium oxide phases.