Photoassisted hydrogen production from a methanol-water mixture on platinized Cr2O3-DOPED TiO2

Abstract In situ reduction of previously adsorbed Pt 4+ species on TiO 2 (anatase) was employed to obtain highly active catalysts for hydrogen photoevolution from a methanol-water solution. A quantum yield as high as 22% was observed. Optimum platinum coverage and the most favourable reaction conditions were established. The influence of surface Cr 2 O 3 admixtures on photoactivity of TiO 2 was investigated. It was found that although the dopant shifts the anatase spectrum into the visible, it was not possible to obtain hydrogen with light of energy smaller than the bandgap of TiO 2 . However, a small amount of Cr 2 O 3 on the TiO 2 surface acts as a poor catalyst for hydrogen evolution.