Synergetic one-step synthesis of SiC/SiOC/TiO2 composites for visible-light-driven hydrogen generation from methanol reforming

The photocatalysts area aims for feasible clean-renewable energy generation, targeting new low-cost and straightforward manufacturing of visible light-responsive materials by developing organic and inorganic novel composites. This work shows a novel approach, exploring three widely used commercially available powders (SiC, SiOC, and TiO2) to build a ternary-component system based on the polymer-derived ceramic (PDC) pathway. Furthermore, the results disclose the phases' interplay and synergetic effects that improve the com-posites' catalytic activity. The interaction between Si and Ti atoms in the composite system decreases the bandgap from 3.2 eV to 2.89 eV, increasing the ceramic yield from 51% to 86% while hindering the TiO2 anatase-to-rutile transformation. The SiC-SiOC-TiO2 interplay boosts the visible-light-driven hydrogen generation through photoreforming for hydrogen generation up to approximately 5-fold compared to pristine TiO2. In addition, the synthesis reported herein provides a straightforward and practical approach by increasing existing catalysts' activity toward visible-light-driven hydrogen generation systems and facilitates further filtration processes.

Automated summary

This study successfully develops a novel ternary-component system using commercially available powders (SiC, SiOC, and TiO2) based on the polymer-derived ceramic (PDC) pathway. The results demonstrate that the interaction between Si and Ti atoms in this composite system significantly improves the catalytic activity and achieves visible-light-driven hydrogen generation through photoreforming.