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.