New insight into calcium tantalate nanocomposite photocatalysts for overall water splitting and reforming of alcohols and biomass derivatives

The photocatalytic properties of different calcium tantalate nanocomposite photocatalysts with optimized phase composition were studied without the addition of any co-catalysts in the photoreforming of different alcohols including the biomass conversion by-product glycerol, as well as after modification with double-layered NiOx (Ni/NiO) co-catalyst in overall water splitting (OWS). Nanocomposite photocatalyst consisting of cubic α-CaTa2O6/orthorhombic β-CaTa2O6 coexisting phases always possesses the highest photocatalytic performance. For overall water splitting, a loading of 0.5 wt. % NiOx exhibits the best activities with stable stoichiometric H2 and O2 evolution rates.