Hydrogen Production by Composite Photocatalyst & Mechanism Analysis
Date Issued
2015
Date
2015
Author(s)
Qu, Meng-Chao
Abstract
We utilized crystalline flake graphite as one of the raw material to synthesize the graphene based semiconductor of photo-catalysts which are extensively concerned. In this research, the modified Hummers method was used to synthesize graphene, whereafter, CdS and WO3 powders were added into the material to compose the compound photo-catalysts for hydrogen production. We further used instrument analysis such as FTIR, XRD, SEM/EDS and UV-Vis to confirm the crystal structure and the potential capability of photo-catalysis. The analysis includes, the optimal dosage and mixed ratio between different substances of compound semiconductor, the effect of doping Gr or N-Gr onto, the impact of WO3 in ternary hybrid and the different effects between three types of sacrificial reagents. The results showed that all the materials including Graphite oxide、N-graphene、Graphene were successfully synthesized and the ideal crystal structure can promote the photo-catalysis effectively. In the contrary, N-graphene/CdS had negative effect comparing with expectation, but not the Gr/CdS. The Gr/CdS can perform the best efficiency and achieve the hydrogen productivity of 611μmol·h-1 after 5 hours reaction under the condition of using Na2S/Na2SO3 as sacrificial reagent with dosage of 0.4 grams. This research testified the promising application of graphene based compound photo-catalysts that may be served as role materials in water splitting. However, further more details can be discussed in future researches to purify the compositions.
Subjects
semiconductor
photocatalysis
graphene
hydrogen production
SDGs
Type
thesis