Solar photocatalytic hydrogen production from glycerol reforming using ternary Cu/THS/Graphene

A ternary Cu/THS/rGO photocatalyst was prepared using solvothermal method. Firstly, pure anatase T1O2 hollow spheres (THS) were prepared via hydrothermal method using titanium butoxide, ethanol, ammonium sulphate, and urea via hydrothermal method. The copper (Cu) nanoparticles were subsequently loaded on the surface of the THS by wet impregnation. During the solvothermal process, the deposition and well dispersion of Cu/THS composites onto the graphene oxide surface. Subsequently, the reduction of graphene oxide to graphene was achieved. The morphological and structural properties of the prepared samples were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), UV-vis DRS, and photoluminescence (PL). The activities of the prepared catalysts were tested for hydrogen production via simultaneous photocatalytic water-splitting and glycerol reforming under visible light irradiation. The excellent photocatalytic activity of the Cu/THS/rGO catalyst was attributed the rGO which acts as both storage and transferor of electrons generated at the Cu and TiO2 heterojunction, thus increasing the electro-hole pairs separation. Furthermore, the effects of reaction parameters photocatalytic hydrogen production were also studied.