Photocatalytic hydrogen production using bimetallic and trimetallic hydrotalcite as photocatalysts

Bimetallic ZnAl and trimetallic ZnCuAl hydrotalcites were synthesized using the coprecipitation method. The presence of the characteristic peaks of layered double hydroxide phases was observed by XRD analysis, as well as the typical like flower morphology of these materials by FESEM and HRTEM analysis. Changes in the valence and conduction bands position, as well as in the band gap calculated by UV-vis spectroscopy and XPS techniques was noted by the presence of Cu in the material. In the photocatalytic behavior for H2 production in presence of UV irradiation, ZnCuAl hydrotalcite showed the highest yield of H2 in comparison to ZnAl material, being both photocatalysts more actives that the reference photocatalyst, consisting in commercial TiO2 (Degussa P-25).

Automated summary

Bimetallic ZnAl and trimetallic ZnCuAl hydrotalcites were synthesized and characterized. The addition of Cu resulted in changes in the electronic structure and band gap of the materials. The ZnCuAl hydrotalcite showed enhanced photocatalytic activity for H2 production compared to ZnAl, as well as the commercial TiO2 reference photocatalyst.