Efficient one-pot microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of M (M = Cr, Ni, Cu, Nb) and nitrogen co-doped TiO2 for hydrogen production by photocatalytic water splitting

• We develoved metal ion (M = Cr, Ni, Cu, Nb) and nitrogen co-doped TiO2 by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method.
• Dopants species and concentrations both affect photocatalytic activity.
• Metal ion (M = Cr, Ni, Cu, Nb) and nitrogen co-doped TiO2 creates impurity levels.
• The Cu/N co-dpoed TiO2 exhibited a much higher photocatalytic activity than nitrogen doped TiO2 under UV and visible light irradiation.

A series of metal ion (M = Cr, Ni, Cu, Nb) and nitrogen co-doped TiO2 with high hydrogen production by photocatalytic water splitting were prepared by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method using titanium sulfate as precursor in the presence of urea. The catalysts were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis (XPS), N2 sorption and Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis).The photocatalytic water splitting was investigated in the presence of methanol as sacrificial hole scavengers under UV light irradiation and visible light irradiation. The rate of H2 evolution was significantly changed with the variation of doped metal atoms, and their doping concentrations. Our results shows that the Cu/N co-doped TiO2 catalyst prepared by microwave-assisted hydrothermal exhibited the highest photoactivity, with a rate of H2 production of 27.4 mmol g−1 h−1 under UV light irradiation and 283 μmol g−1 h−1 under visible light irradiation.

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