Photocatalytic hydrogen production from methanol aqueous solution under visible-light using Cu/S–TiO2 prepared by electroless plating method

•A photocatalyst Cu/S–TiO2 is synthesized by electroless plating method.•The Cu/S–TiO2 can produce hydrogen efficiently under visible light.•Cu species of Cu/S–TiO2 are Cu2O and CuO, and highly dispersed.•The prepared Cu/S–TiO2 favors the photocatalytic activity and stability.

Cu was loaded on the S-doped TiO2 by electroless plating method. The prepared Cu/S–TiO2 exhibited high photocatalytic activity for hydrogen generation, and the yield is up to 7.5 mmol h− 1 g− 1cat in methanol solution. Their physical structure and chemical properties were characterized by UV–Vis, XRD, XPS and EXAFS. The copper species were CuO and Cu2O, and the sample showed excellent visible light absorption ability. Comparing with the sample prepared by chemical reducing method, the electroless plated copper on S–TiO2 was highly dispersed, which could facilitate photo-generated charges capture, transfer and separation.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide