Hybridized synergy effect among TiO2, Pt and graphite silica on photocatalytic hydrogen production from water–methanol solution

The photocatalytic production of hydrogen gas from aqueous methanol solution was performed using powdered mixtures of graphite silica (GS) and platinized TiO2 (Pt/TiO2) or those of GS, Pt and TiO2. The addition of GS to Pt/TiO2 resulted in the decrease of the amount of H2 gas, whereas the addition of GS to mixtures of TiO2 and Pt led to the incremental production of H2 gas. This effect is attributed to the aggregation of GS, TiO2 and Pt in suspension. The new additional electron transfer process of TiO2 → Pt → GS caused the increment of the amount of hydrogen gas.