Photocatalytic generation of useful hydrocarbons and hydrogen from acetic acid in the presence of lanthanide modified TiO2

Pure and Ln3+ modified TiO2 photocatalysts (Ln3+ = Eu3+ or Sm3+ ions) synthesized by a sol–gel method as well as commercially available P25 were applied for photocatalytic generation of useful hydrocarbons and hydrogen from acetic acid. Structure and surface properties of the photocatalysts were characterized by XRD, UV–vis/DR, FT-IR and N2 adsorption–desorption measurements. The main gaseous products of CH3COOH decomposition were CH4 and CO2. Trace amounts of C2H6 and H2 were also detected in the reaction mixture. Moreover, it was observed that the quantities of all identified gases increased with elongation of irradiation time. The most active photocatalysts towards CH4 and H2 generation were Ln3+/TiO2 containing 0.05 mol % of Sm and Eu, respectively. The results revealed that the Ln3+ modification can improve the effectiveness of the photocatalysts compared to pure and commercially available TiO2 provided that a proper amount of modifying ions is used.

► Ln3+ modified TiO2 photocatalysts (Ln3+ = Eu3+ or Sm3+ ions) synthesized by sol-gel method.
► These modified nanomaterials were applied for photocatalytic generation of useful hydrocarbon especially methane and hydrogen from acetic acid.
► The Ln3+ modification can improve the effectiveness of the photocatalysts toward methane and hydrogen generation compared to pure and commercially available TiO2.