High-efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution on eosin Y-sensitized Ti-MCM41 zeolite under visible-light irradiation

Eosin Y-sensitized Ti-MCM-41 zeolite was found to be highly active for hydrogen evolution under visible light irradiation. Dye sensitization was an efficient way to make zeolite sensitive to visible light. Up to 12.01% of the apparent quantum efficiency was achieved over this catalyst under visible light (lambda > 420 nm). This catalyst was quite stable over 60 h after consecutive six runs. The deposition of metals (Pt, Ru, Rh) was necessary for hydrogen generation. In addition, amount of dye molecule that anchored on the zeolite affected the hydrogen generation rate significantly. By characterization of UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), it was believed that light was converted into chemical storable hydrogen via electron transfer from dye molecule to TiOx clusters in zeolite, and the effective usage of input light energy was accomplished.