Cu/Zr-doped TiO2 nanocomposite based photocatalysts for sustainable visible-light hydrogen generation
Аннотация
The photocatalytic hydrogen (H 2 ) production under visible sunlight has gained global recognition as a viable energy source due to its renewable, clean, and sustainable approach. Bandgap engineering and surface modifications of the photocatalyst are crucial to effectively generating H 2 in the visible range and improving charge carrier (CC) usage. In this investigation, the simple hydrothermal method was used to develop an effective and stable Cu/Zr/TiO 2 (CZT) nanocomposite-based photocatalyst for hydrogen generation. The CZT nanocomposite-based photocatalyst was investigated for various structural, morphological, and optical characteristics. The XRD analysis disclosed the highly crystalline structure of the nanocomposite, while SEM images depicted an aggregation of small, roughly cubic, and irregularly shaped particles. Further, the effective electron transport was rendered by the CZT nanocomposites-based photocatalyst, which in turn facilitated the separation and movement of photogenerated charge carriers in a particular direction. The optimized CZT photocatalyst achieved an impressive H₂ production rate of 1241 μmol·g −1 ·h −1 , significantly surpassing that of pristine TiO 2 nanoparticles (NPs) (561 μmol·g −1 ·h −1 ), Zr/TiO 2 (578 μmol·g −1 ·h −1 ), and Cu/TiO 2 NPs (693 μmol·g −1 ·h −1 ) by factors of 2.21, 2.15, and 1.79, respectively. Additionally, the CZT nanocomposite demonstrated exceptional stability, maintaining a consistent H 2 evolution rate over four consecutive photocatalytic (PC) cycles, confirming its durability. The enhanced H 2 evolution rate is due to synergistic characteristics of nanocomposites, including efficient electron transport, particle shape and size, oxygen vacancies, and improved visible light (VL) absorption. • Cu:Zr co-doped TiO 2 nanocomposites were synthesized using a sustainable hydrothermal method. • The optimized photocatalyst achieved a high H 2 evolution rate of 1241 μmol·g −1 ·h −1 under visible light. • Co-doping enhanced charge separation, reduced recombination, and improved visible-light absorption. • The CZT catalyst demonstrated excellent photostability over multiple reaction cycles.