Abstract
MgO modified TiO2/WO3 dual-layer photocatalysts (DLP) was synthesized by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering (RFMS). The influences of MgO on the properties and the performance of the prepared DLP were investigated. MgO modified TiO2 thin films were characterized by instrumental analysis such as XRD, AFM, SEM-EDS, and UV-visible absorption spectrometry. Their photoactivity was assessed by conducting photovoltammetry followed by splitting water in a twin-cell reactor, where hydrogen gas and oxygen gas were produced separately. The yield of H2 and O2 in the twin-cell reactor corresponded to the photovoltammetry results, indicating that MgO can significantly improve the photoactivity of DLP. The improvement is attributed primarily to the hygroscopic Nature of MgO, which can increase the amount of H2O molecules on the surface of TiO2 for carrying out the photoreaction. In addition, the incorporated MgO layer can also act as an insulator to suppress the electron leakage that occurred at the TiO2-water interface.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
M. Momirlan and T. N. Veziroglu, Renew. Sust. Energy Rev., 6, 141 (2002).
M. Ni, M. K. H. Leung, D. Y. C. Leung and K. Sumathy, Renew. Sust. Energy Rev., 11, 401 (2007).
A. Fujishima and K. Honda, Nature, 238, 37 (1972).
C.-W. Huang, V.-H. Nguyen, S.-R. Zhou, S.-Y. Hsu, J.-X. Tan and K. C. W. Wu, Sustain. Energy Fuels, 4, 504 (2020).
S. G. Kumar and L. G. Devi, J. Phys. Chem. A, 115, 13211 (2011).
R. Asahi, T. Morikawa, T. Ohwaki, K. Aoki and Y. Taga, Science, 293, 269 (2001).
K. Domen, A. Kudo, T. Onishi, N. Kosugi and H. Kuroda, J. Phys. Chem., 90, 292 (1986).
K. Gurunathan, P. Maruthamuthu and M. V. C. Sastri, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 22, 57 (1997).
A. Kudo, H. Kato and S. Nakagawa, J. Phys. Chem. B, 104, 571 (1999).
H. Kikuchi, M. Kitano, M. Takeuchi, M. Matsuoka M. Anpo and P. V. Kamat, J. Phys. Chem. B, 110, 5537 (2006).
M. Kitano, M. Takeuchi, M. Matsuoka, J. M. Thomas and M. Anpo, Chem. Lett., 34, 616 (2005).
C. H. Liao, C. W. Huang and J. C. S. Wu, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 37, 11632 (2012).
C. H. Liao, C. W. Huang and J. C. S. Wu, Asia-Pac. J. Chem. Eng., 8, 283 (2013).
M. Kitano, M. Takeuchi, M. Matsuoka, J. A. Thomas and M. Anpo, Catal. Today, 120, 133 (2007).
H. Tada, Y. Kubo, M. Akazawa and S. Ito, Langmuir, 14, 2936 (1998).
H. Tada, M. Yamamoto and S. Ito, Langmuir, 15, 3699 (1999).
C. Anderson and A. Bard, J. Phys. Chem., 99, 9882 (1995).
H. S. Jung, J. K. Lee, M. Nastasi, J. R. Kim, S. W. Lee, J. Y. Kim, J. S. Park, K. S. Hong and H. Shin, Appl. Phys. Lett., 88, 013107 (2006).
S.-T. Bae, H. Shin, J. Y. Kim, H. S. Jung and K. S. Hong, J. Phys. Chem. C, 112, 9937 (2008).
C. W. Huang, C. H. Liao, J. C. S. Wu, Y. C. Liu, C. L. Chang, C. H. Wu, M. Anpo, M. Matsuoka and M. Takeuchi, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 35, 12005 (2010).
C. H. Liao, C. W. Huang and J. C. S. Wu, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 37, 11632 (2012).
H. S. Jung, J.-K. Lee, M. Nastasi, S.-W. Lee, J.-Y. Kim, J.-S. Park, K. S. Hong and H. Shin, Langmuir, 21, 10332 (2005).
M. Kitano, H. Kikuchi, T. Hosoda, M. Takeuchi, M. Matsuoka, T. Eura, M. Anpo and J. M. Thomas, Key Eng. Mater., 317, 823 (2006).
H. S. Jung, J. K. Lee, K. S. Hong and H. J. Youn, J. Appl. Phys., 92, 2855 (2002).
Acknowledgements
This study was supported under grant number MOST 105-2221-E-002-206-MY3, 106-2218-E-992-304-MY2, and 108-3116-F-006-013 from the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), Taiwan. The authors also appreciate the Academia Sinica of Taiwan for partial support under the project AS-KPQ-106-DDPP.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Huang, CW., Liao, CH. & Wu, J.CS. Photocatalytic water splitting using hygroscopic MgO modified TiO2/WO3 dual-layer photocatalysts. Korean J. Chem. Eng. 37, 1352–1359 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-020-0603-5
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-020-0603-5