Photocatalytic Activity for Hydrogen Evolution over Well-Dispersed Heterostructured In2O3/Ta2O5 Composites

Using well-dispersed Ta2O5 microspheres as supports, which were prepared by controlling the hydrolysis rates of tantalum ethoxide via the formation of glycolate in an acetone-water mixture, dispersible heterostructured In2O3/Ta2O5 composites were fabricated for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution under simulant solar light irradiation. The compositions, structure, morphologies, and optical absorption properties of these composites were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The results show that in the as-prepared heterostructured In2O3/Ta2O5 composites, In2O3 nanoparticles are well distributed on the surface of Ta2O5 microspheres with a clear interface between the two phases. The incorporation of In2O3 extends the light absorption range and restricts photogenerated charge-carrier recombination, resulting in enhanced photocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution.

摘要通过控制乙醇钽的水解速率, 在丙酮水溶液中制备了可分散的 Ta2O5 微球, 并以此为载体构建了 In2O3/Ta2O5 异质结复合光催化剂, 利用扫描电子显微镜、X 射线能量色散光谱、粉末 X 射线衍射光谱、透射电子显微镜和紫外-可见漫反射光谱等手段对样品形貌、结构和光吸收性质进行了表征. 结果表明, In2O3 纳米粒子分布在 Ta2O5 微球表面, 且两相间存在明显的界面, 同时 In2O3 的复合拓宽了 Ta2O5 的光吸收范围, 有利于光生电子与空穴的分离, 使复合光催化剂在模拟太阳光照射下表现出更高的光解水制氢活性.

Well-dispersed In2O3/Ta2O5 composites exhibit enhanced photocatalytic activity for hydrogen production under simulant solar light irradiation because of effective photogenerated charge-carrier separation between In2O3 and Ta2O5.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide