Issue 4, 2012

Modification of TaON with ZrO2 to improve photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity under visible light: influence of preparation conditions on activity

Abstract

The effects of the preparation conditions of ZrO2-modified TaON (referred to as ZrO2/TaON) on the photocatalytic activity for H2 evolution under visible light (λ > 420 nm) were investigated. ZrO2/TaON catalysts were prepared by loading particulate Ta2O5 with ZrO2 using different zirconium precursors, followed by nitridation at 1123 K for different durations (5–20 h) under NH3 flow. Nitridation of ZrO2/Ta2O5 for 15 h resulted in the production of ZrO2/TaON, regardless of the zirconium precursors used, but the physicochemical properties varied. The highest activity was obtained for ZrO2/TaON synthesized from Ta2O5 and ZrO(NO3)2·2H2O (Zr/Ta = 0.1 by mole) after nitridation for 15 h. Physicochemical analysis suggested that a lower density of anionic defects in TaON, which was realized using highly-dispersed ZrO2 nanoparticles (10–30 nm in size), contributed primarily to the enhanced activity.

Graphical abstract: Modification of TaON with ZrO2 to improve photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity under visible light: influence of preparation conditions on activity

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
03 Dec 2011
Accepted
05 Jan 2012
First published
06 Jan 2012

Catal. Sci. Technol., 2012,2, 818-823

Modification of TaON with ZrO2 to improve photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity under visible light: influence of preparation conditions on activity

S. S. K. Ma, K. Maeda and K. Domen, Catal. Sci. Technol., 2012, 2, 818 DOI: 10.1039/C2CY00499B

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