Tuning CuOx-TiO2 interaction and photocatalytic hydrogen production of CuOx/TiO2 photocatalysts via TiO2 morphology engineering

CuOx/TiO2 photocatalysts prepared with anatase TiO2 nanocrystals exposing different types of facets as supports were examined for photocatalytic H-2 production in methanol/water solution under simulated solar light. Catalyst structures were characterized by XRD, HRTEM, XPS, UV-vis, EPR, PL, H-2 -TPR and CO chemisorption. Enhanced photocatalytic H-2 productions of CuOx/TiO2 photocatalysts followed an order of CuOx/TiO2{0 0 1} > CuOx/TiO2-{1 0 0} > CuOx/TiO2-{1 0 1}. TiO2 facets were found to strongly affect the CuOx-TiO2 interaction and structures of CuOx/TiO2 photocatalysts. Cu2O-TiO2 interaction in CuOx/TiO2-{0 0 1} photocatalyst is the strongest, resulting in the highest Cu2O dispersion and density of Cu2O-TiO2 heterojunctions active in photocatalytic H-2 production. The results add insights into morphology engineering as an effective strategy to tune structures and photocatalytic activity of TiO2 -based composite photocatalysts.