Influence of the strong metal support interaction effect (SMSI) of Pt/TiO2 and Pd/TiO2 systems in the photocatalytic biohydrogen production from glucose solution

Two different catalysts consisting of Pt/TiO2 and Pd/TiO2 were submitted to diverse oxidative and reductive calcination treatments and tested for photocatalytic reforming of glucose water solution (as a model of biomass component) in H-2 production. Oxidation and reduction at 850 degrees C resulted in better photocatalysts for hydrogen production than Degussa P-25 and the ones prepared at 500 degrees C, despite the fact that the former consisted in very low surface area (6-8 m(2)/g) rutile titania specimens. The platinum-containing systems prepared at 850 degrees C give the most effective catalysts. XPS characterization of the systems showed that thermal treatment at 850 degrees C resulted in electron transfer from titania to metal particles through the so-called strong metal-support interaction (SMSI) effect. Furthermore, the greater the SMSI effect, the better the catalytic performance. Improvement in photocatalytic behavior is explained in terms of avoidance of electron-hole recombination through the electron transfer from titania to metal particles. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.