PHOTOCATALYST CONTAINING EARTH ABUNDANT MATERIALS AND HYDROGEN PRODUCTION THEREOF

摘要

This invention reports an effective use of copper terephthalate metal-organic framework, Cu[C6H4(COO)2](dmf) and titanium isopropoxide which integrates into a new class of high performance nanocomposite photocatalyst. A novel Cu-MOF templated approach is developed tn synthesize the hybrid nanostructured composite materials via self assembly. Above embedded hybrid composite, upon heat-treatment, produces amorphous composite materials with interesting photophysical properties as it enables sustainable photocatalytic H2 production from water with a sacrificial electron donor under solar light illumination. In addition to the good thermal inertness, photocatalyst shows significant chemical robustness with sustainable activity in the aqueous medium at neutral pH. The significance of balance and synergy among the essential physicochemical properties was further revealed on the photocatalytic H2 generation. Unlike many Pt decorated Ti02 photocatalyst widely reported in the literature, Cu is an attractive alternative to Pt in the hybrid photocatalyst and provides an inexpensive means of harnessing solar energy. This result may lead to the development of a new class of hybrid photocatalysts composed of earth abundant elements for hydrogen production.