Synergistic effects of MXene support and cobalt salts in dye-sensitized photocatalytic hydrogen generation

[EN] This study introduces an approach to photocatalytic hydrogen production through a dye-sensitized photocatalytic system employing MXene (Ti3C2Tx) and a non-noble cobalt metal catalyst. It was demonstrated that simple integration of eosin Y, Ti3C2Tx and cobalt salt (CoSO4) significantly enhances...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Smirnova, Marina, Scheibe, Blazej, Lewandowska Andralojc, Anna, Ramírez-Grau, Rubén, García Gómez, Hermenegildo|||0000-0002-9664-493X
Format: article
Publication Date:2024
Country:España
Institution:Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV)
Repository:RiuNet. Repositorio Institucional de la Universitat Politécnica de Valéncia
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:riunet.upv.es:10251/211442
Online Access:https://riunet.upv.es/handle/10251/211442
Access Level:Embargoed access
Keyword:Photocatalysis
Hydrogen production
MXene
Dye-sensitization
Non-noble catalysts
Eosin Y
QUIMICA ORGANICA
Description
Summary:[EN] This study introduces an approach to photocatalytic hydrogen production through a dye-sensitized photocatalytic system employing MXene (Ti3C2Tx) and a non-noble cobalt metal catalyst. It was demonstrated that simple integration of eosin Y, Ti3C2Tx and cobalt salt (CoSO4) significantly enhances the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution, outperforming the corresponding system that does not include Ti3C2Tx. The key to this enhanced performance lies in the unique properties of MXene material, which facilitates effective electron transfer and acts as a support for dye and catalyst. The successful well-dispersed decoration of small (2-3 nm) cobalt-based nanoparticles on the Ti3C2Tx sheet via in situ photodeposition was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). The optimal hydrogen production rates were achieved with a Co to Ti3C2Tx mass ratio of 15%. This optimized interaction results in a hydrogen evolution rate of 40.1 mmol h(-1) g(-1) and an apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) of 35.4% at 505 nm. These findings highlight the potential of Ti3C2Tx as a versatile component in photocatalytic systems, particularly effective when paired with economically viable, earth-abundant catalysts like cobalt.