Enhancement of catalytic activity of AgPd@Pd/TiO nanoparticles under UV and visible photoirradiation

The effects of photoirradiation for the production of hydrogen from the decomposition of formic acid (FA) were studied using Ag 93 Pd 7 @Pd/TiO 2 (anatase (A) or P25 (P)) nanocatalysts. The catalytic activity was enhanced by a factor of 1.5-1.6 under UV and visible (vis) photoirradiation at room temperature for both TiO 2 supports. It was explained by the formation of an electron-rich Pd shell because of the migration of photogenerated electrons from the TiO 2 surface. The catalytic activity of Ag 93 Pd 7 @Pd/TiO 2 (A) was 1.7-7.3 times higher than that of Ag 93 Pd 7 @Pd/TiO 2 (P) without and under photoirradiation at 27-90 °C. The catalytic activity of Ag 93 Pd 7 @Pd/TiO 2 (A) under photoirradiation at 27 °C with 468 mmol H 2 g per catalyst per h, is the best value ever reported out of all of the heterogeneous catalysts using TiO 2 (A) as a photocatalyst at room temperature. The hydrogen production rate of AgPd@Pd/TiO 2 nanocatalysts from formic acid decomposition was enhanced by 50-60% at room temperature under photoirradiation.