Solar-Driven Lignocellulose-to-H2 Conversion in Water using 2D-2D MoS2/TiO2 Photocatalysts

As an alternative strategy for H-2 production under ambient conditions, solar-driven lignocellulose-to-H-2 conversion provides a very attractive approach to store and utilize solar energy sustainably. Exploiting efficient photocatalyst for photocatalytic lignocellulose-to-H-2 conversion is of huge significance and remains the key challenge for development of solar H-2 generation from lignocellulose. Herein, 2D-2D MoS2/TiO2 photocatalysts with large 2D nanojunction were constructed for photocatalytic lignocellulose-to-H-2 conversion. In this smart structure, the 2D nanojunctions acted as efficient channel for charge transfer from TiO2 to MoS2 to improve charge separation efficiency and thus enhance photocatalytic lignocellulose-to-H-2 conversion activity. The 2 % MoS2/TiO2 photocatalyst showed the highest photocatalytic lignocellulose-to-H-2 conversion performance with the maximal H-2 generation rate of 201 and 21.4 mu mol h(-1) g(-1) in alpha-cellulose and poplar wood chip aqueous solution, respectively. The apparent quantum yield at 380 nm reached 1.45 % for 2 % 2D-2D TiO2/MoS2 photocatalyst in alpha-cellulose aqueous solution. This work highlights the importance of optimizing the interface structures of photocatalyst for solar-driven lignocellulose-to-H-2 conversion.

Automated summary

This study constructed 2D-2D MoS2/TiO2 photocatalysts, which significantly improved the efficiency of photocatalytic lignocellulose-to-H-2 conversion and demonstrated high H-2 generation rates. By optimizing the interface structures of the photocatalyst, more efficient solar-driven lignocellulose-to-H-2 conversion can be achieved.