Metal-seed assistant photodeposition of platinum over Ta3N5 photocatalyst for promoted solar hydrogen production under visible light

Cocatalysts play a vital role in accelerating the reaction kinetics and improving the charge separation of photocatalysts for solar hydrogen production. The promotion of the photocatalytic activity largely relies on the loading approach of the cocatalysts. Herein, we introduce a metal-seed assistant photodeposition approach to load the hydrogen evolution cocatalyst of platinum onto the surface of Ta3N5 photocatalyst, which exhibits about 3.6 times of higher photocatalytic proton reduction activity with respect to the corresponding impregnation or photodeposition loading. Based on our characterizations, the increscent contact area of the cocatalyst/semiconductor interface with metal-seed assistant photodeposition method is proposed to be responsible for the promoted charge separation as well as enhanced photocatalytic H-2 evolution activity. It is interesting to note that this innovative deposition strategy can be easily extended to loading of platinum cocatalyst with other noble or non-noble metal seeds for promoted activities, demonstrating its good generality. Our work may provide an alternative way of depositing cocatalyst for better photocatalytic performances. (C) 2020 Science Press and Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by ELSEVIER B.V. and Science Press. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Cocatalysts are essential for improving the efficiency of photocatalysts for solar hydrogen production. The use of a metal-seed assistant photodeposition approach can significantly enhance the catalytic activity by increasing the contact area between the cocatalyst and the semiconductor interface. This innovative deposition strategy shows good generality and has the potential to improve photocatalytic performances.