Highly efficient TiO sub(2 nanotube photocatalyst for simultaneous hydrogen production and copper removal from water)

1-D mesoporous TiO sub(2 nanotube (TNT) with large BET surface area was successfully synthesized by a hydrothermal-calcination process, and employed for simultaneous photocatalytic H) sub(2) production and Cu[super]2+ removal from water. Cu[super]2+, across a wide concentration range of 8-800 ppm, was removed rapidly from water under irradiation. The removed Cu[super]2+ then combined with TNT to produce efficient Cu incorporated TNT (Cu-TNT) photocatalyst for H sub(2 production. Average H) sub(2) generation rate recorded across a 4 h reaction was between 15.7 and 40.2 mmol h[super]-1 g[super]-1 sub(catalyst, depending on initial Cu[super]2+/Ti ratio in solution, which was optimized at 10 atom%. In addition, reduction process of Cu[super]2+ was also a critical factor in governing H) sub(2) evolution. In comparison with P25, its large surface area and 1-D tubular structure endowed TNT with higher photocatalytic activity in both Cu[super]2+ removal and H sub(2 production.)