Enhancing the photocatalytic efficiency of TiO2 nanotube arrays for H2 production by using non-noble metal cobalt as co-catalyst

•Co nanoparticles are uniformly deposited on the TiO2 nanotube arrays (TNAs).•Co/TNAs exhibits a high activity for photocatalytic splitting of water into hydrogen.•The hydrogen evolution rate of Co/TNAs is near 10 times as high as that of TNAs.•Co as a co-photocatalyst instead of Pt is proven to be feasible and practical.

Non-noble metals are attractive alternatives to Pt co-catalysts for hydrogen production. Herein, Co nanoparticles were designed to uniformly deposit on the surface of TiO2 nanotube arrays (Co/TNAs) via photo-deposition and reduction method. The structure and optical property of the Co/TNAs were characterized. Compared with pure TNAs, Co/TNAs showed a highly photocatalytic activity for hydrogen production without the Pt co-catalyst under UV–vis light irradiation. The study presents a promising practical way using non-noble metal as co-catalyst for photocatalytic splitting of water into hydrogen.

Graphical abstractCo nanoparticles have been uniformly supported on TiO2 nanotube arrays (Co/TNAs), which exhibit a high activity for photocatalytic splitting of water into hydrogen.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide