Modulation of HCHO, H2O and H adsorption on AgPd cocatalyst by optimizing of selective exposed facet to enhancing the efficiency of conversion toxic formaldehyde into hydrogen driven by visible light

Abstract An effective cocatalyst is crucial for the high efficient visible photocatalytic hydrogen generation from formaldehyde. In this study, we develop a novel active Ag 1 Pd 1 alloy cocatalyst with selective exposed (1 1 1) facet for the conversion toxic formaldehyde into hydrogen driven by visible light via modulation of the adsorption of HCHO, H 2 O molecules and H atom on optimized crystal facet of alloy cocatalyst. The Ag 1 Pd 1 (1 1 1)/RGO catalyst shows more than two times higher catalytic activity than Ag 1 Pd 1 (1 0 0)/RGO catalyst under same condition. By taking advantage of the more efficient charge transfer and separation, the prolonged the lifetime of photogenerated electrons has been achieved over (1 1 1) facet AgPd alloy. Our result provides a new insight to develop the active cocatalyst by modulating crystal facet of alloy cocatalyst for hydrogen generation from formaldehyde under visible light irradiation.