TiO2-supported copper nanoparticles prepared via ion exchange for photocatalytic hydrogen production

Ion exchange (IE) has been used to prepare Cu/TiO2 for photocatalytic hydrogen generation. The IE Cu/ TiO2 particles comprised a mixture of large and fine copper/copper oxide deposits which were well dispersed across the TiO2 surface. Hydrogen generation photoactivity by the IE Cu/TiO2 was similar to 44% greater than the activity displayed by Cu/TiO2 prepared via wet impregnation (WI) at a similar copper loading. Temperature programmed reduction studies indicated the IE Cu/TiO2 possessed a greater portion of highly dispersed fine copper deposits than the WI Cu/TiO2 which may account for the higher photoactivity. The hydrogen generation activity of IE Cu/TiO2 was maintained over three 5 h reaction cycles.