Enhancing hydrogen production activity and suppressing CO formation from photocatalytic biomass reforming on Pt/TiO2 by optimizing anatase–rutile phase structure

The photocatalytic activity in hydrogen production from biomass reforming can be significantly enhanced while keeping ultra-low CO concentration in produced H2 by tuning the anatase–rutile phase structures of Pt/TiO2 photocatalysts. Compared with Pt/P25, the overall photocatalytic activity for the photocatalyst with optimized anatase–rutile structure can be enhanced up to 3–5 times, and the CO concentration in hydrogen can be reduced from several thousands ppm to 5 ppm. It is proposed that the anatase–rutile phase structure can not only enhance the charge separation, consequently the activity, but also adjust the surface acid/base property which suppresses the CO formation.

Graphical abstractFor photocatalytic biomass reforming on Pt/TiO2 by tuning anatase–rutile phase structure, the hydrogen production activity can be significantly enhanced and CO concentration can be reduced from thousands ppm to 5 ppm.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (56 K)Download as PowerPoint slideResearch highlights► TiO2-based photocatalysts with tuned anatase–rutile structures were produced. ► Photocatalytic activity for hydrogen production is enhanced up to 3–5 times. ► CO concentration in H2 is reduced to an ultra-low level. ► The anatase–rutile junction is responsible for the photocatalytic performance.