Formation of multilayer-Eosin Y-sensitized TiO_2 via Fe~(3+) coupling for efficient visible-light photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

摘要

An efficient visible-light active photocatalyst of multilayer-Eosm Y-sensitized T1O_2 is prepared through linkage of Fe~(3+) between not only TiO_2 and Eosin Y but also different Eosin Y molecules to form three-dimensional polymeric dye structure. The multilayer-dye-sensitized photo-catalyst is found to have high light harvesting efficiency and photocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution under visible light irradiation (λ > 420 nm). On the optimum conditions (1:1 initial molar ratio of Eosin Y to Fe(NO_3)_3, initial 10 × 10~(-3) M Eosin Y, and 1.0 wt% Pt deposited by in situ photoreduction), its maximal apparent quantum yield for hydrogen evolution is 19.1% from aqueous triethanolamine solution (TEOA aq). The present study highlights linking between dye molecules via metal ions as a general way to develop efficient visible-light photocatalyst.