Efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production from water over Pt–Eosin Y catalyst: A systemic study of reaction parameters

• The reaction parameters of a high efficient homogeneous system for hydrogen production have been systemicly studied.
• The optimal values of these reaction parameters have been reported in this work.
• We expounded the mechanism underlying the different effects of these reaction parameters.

A high efficient homogeneous system for hydrogen production from water consisting of Eosin Y as a photosensitizer, methyl viologen (MV2+) as an electron transfer mediator, triethanolamine (TEOA) as a sacrificial electron donor and colloid Pt as a catalyst, has been systemicly studied. The initial system pH and the concentration of Eosin Y have remarkable effects on the rate of hydrogen evolution. The optimal pH and concentration of Eosin Y are 9 and 7.2×10−5 M. Triethanolamine (TEOA) as an electron donor, can reductively quench the oxidized Eosin Y and the quenching is well modeled by the Stern–Volmer equation. The optimal concentration of TEOA and the concentration of MV2+ are 0.3 M and 3.1×10−4 M, respectively. In addition, the role of colloid Pt has been investigated.