Surface synergism of Pd/H2Ti3O7 composite nanowires for catalytic and photocatalytic hydrogen production from ammonia borane

Abstract

Pd-incorporated H2Ti3O7 nanowires are synthesized using a facile one-step procedure. H2Ti3O7 nanowires are prepared using a modified alkaline hydrothermal method and Pd is incorporated into the H2Ti3O7 nanowires using a photodeposition technique. The prepared Pd-incorporated H2Ti3O7 nanowires are characterized using XRD, TEM, XPS, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The results show that Pd-incorporated H2Ti3O7 nanowires are formed and that the photocatalytic properties of the H2Ti3O7 nanowires are improved by the doping and deposition processes. Furthermore, 1 wt% Pd/H2Ti3O7 composite nanowires show a high hydrogen production rate (up to 0.31 mol min(-1)) under visible light illumination at 20 degrees C, and the efficiency of 0.25 wt% Pd/H2Ti3O7 composite nanowires is enhanced by 20% under visible light illumination. The detailed mechanism of hydrogen production through hydrolysis of ammonia borane by using Pd/H2Ti3O7 composite nanowires is discussed.