Effects of cocatalyst and calcination temperature on photocatalytic hydrogen evolution over BaTi4O9 powder synthesized by the polymerized complex method

BaTi(4)O(9) powders with improved crystal perfection and relatively large surface area were synthesized by the polymerized complex (PC) method calcined at reduced temperatures (700-1,000 degrees C) relative to the solid-state reaction (SSR) method. BaTi(4)O(9) with a unique pentagonal-prism tunnel structure, combined with different cocatalysts (Pt, Ru, Ni, Cu, Co) as promoters, was investigated towards photocatalytic reactions for H(2) evolution from pure water and aqueous ethanol solution. Pt/BaTi(4)O(9) achieved the highest activity from ethanol solution, and subsequently it was focused to study the effect of calcination temperature on photocatalytic activities. The maximum quantum yield for H(2) evolution from pure water and ethanol solution was obtained at 700 and 800 degrees C separately, with the value of 0.9% and 11.7% over Pt/BaTi(4)O(9) photocatalysts.