Efficient hydrogen generation on CuO core/Ag TiO2 shell nano-hetero-structures by photocatalytic splitting of water

Abstract Efficient hydrogen generation via photocatalytic splitting of water, using methanol as hole-scavenger, has been recorded using CuO core/Ag TiO 2 shell nano-hetero-structures. Ag incorporation in TiO 2 ranged 1, 3, 5 and 7% at. XRD, SEM and TEM analyses of samples confirmed the dominant evolution of tenorite CuO and anatase TiO 2 . Average crystallite size was 36, 22 and 33–42 nm for pristine CuO, pristine TiO 2 and core/shell samples, respectively. EDX and XPS analyses indicated composition and oxidation states of elements and the existence of Ag in metallic state. Exhibiting absorption in the visible range, diffuse reflectance UV–Visible absorption spectra of core/shell samples resembled closely to that of pristine CuO. Compared to pristine samples, core/shell samples yielded significant gain in hydrogen generation. Sample with 1% Ag-incorporated TiO 2 shell recorded most efficient hydrogen generation with yield as high as 180 and 13 μmol g −1 h −1 in laboratory and field conditions, respectively. Plausible reasons for the observed gain in performance are given.