Hollow spherical RuO2@TiO2@Pt bifunctional photocatalyst for coupled H2 production and pollutant degradation

A novel bifuntional RuO2@TiO2@Pt photocatalyst was designed by control-assembling TiO2 hollow spheres with RuO2 and Pt deposited onto outer and inner shell surfaces, respectively. This RuO2@TiO2@Pt was used in coupled photocatalytic H-2 production and organic pollutant degradation, which showed the synergetic effect between photocatalytic oxidation and reduction. Meanwhile, the RuO2 facilitated the transfer and collection of photo-induced holes generated from TiO2, followed by oxidizing organic pollutants for degradation. Similarly, the Pt promoted the transfer and enrichment of photoelectrons, which favored the proton reduction to H-2 as a cocatalyst. Thus, the RuO2@TiO2@Pt exhibited very high activity owing to the enhanced light harvesting through multiple reflections in the TiO2 hollow chamber, the rapid separation corresponding to the low recombination of photoelectron-hole and the cooperative promoting effect from RuO2 and Pt cocatalysts in photocatalytic oxidation and reduction. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.