Enhanced hydrogen production activity over BiOX–TiO2 under solar irradiation:Improved charge transfer through bismuth oxide clusters

A series of titania nanoparticles and nanotubes deposited with various quantities of bismuth（Bi） were prepared via sol-gel and hydrothermal methods, respectively. They were then characterized using X-ray diffraction spectroscopy（XRD）, X-ray photo electron spectroscopy（XPS）, UV–Vis diffused reflectance spectra（DRS）, photoluminescence spectra（PLS）, transmission electron microscopy（TEM）, energy dispersive analysis of X-rays（EDAX）, and BET surface analysis. These catalysts were employed for the photocatalytic production of hydrogen from a mixture of pure water and glycerol under solar light irradiation. The presence of the Bispecies was found to play a vital role in enhancing activity while minimizing electron hole recombination（relative to bare TiO）. The nanotubes exhibited better activity than the nanoparticles of Bi-deposited TiO, showing the significance of the morphology; however, photocatalytic activity is predominantly dependent on the deposition of bismuth. The activity increased by approximately an order of magnitude at the optimum concentration of Bi deposited over TiO（2 wt%）. The presence of the Bispecies played a vital role in minimizing electron hole recombination, resulting in higher activity compared to bare TiO.

A series of titania nanoparticles and nanotubes deposited with various quantities of bismuth(Bi) were prepared via sol-gel and hydrothermal methods, respectively. They were then characterized using X-ray diffraction spectroscopy(XRD), X-ray photo electron spectroscopy(XPS), UV–Vis diffused reflectance spectra(DRS), photoluminescence spectra(PLS), transmission electron microscopy(TEM), energy dispersive analysis of X-rays(EDAX), and BET surface analysis. These catalysts were employed for the photocatalytic production of hydrogen from a mixture of pure water and glycerol under solar light irradiation. The presence of the Bi^((3+x)+) species was found to play a vital role in enhancing activity while minimizing electron hole recombination(relative to bare TiO_2). The nanotubes exhibited better activity than the nanoparticles of Bi-deposited TiO_2, showing the significance of the morphology; however, photocatalytic activity is predominantly dependent on the deposition of bismuth. The activity increased by approximately an order of magnitude at the optimum concentration of Bi deposited over TiO_2(2 wt%). The presence of the Bi^((3+x)+) species played a vital role in minimizing electron hole recombination, resulting in higher activity compared to bare TiO_2.