Preparation and Characterization of Nanocrystalline TiO2 on Microsericite for High-Efficiency Photo-Energy Conversion of Methanol to Hydrogen

TiO2 and TiO2/sericite photocatalysts were successfully synthesized via the sol-gel method by adding a varying amount of acetic acid. The effect of acetic acid on TiO2 and TiO2/sericite photocatalysts was studied. The crystallite size, surface morphology, chemical composition, specific surface area, surficial functional groups, and light absorbance of the prepared photocatalysts were revealed by the analysis of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS), nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms by using BET theory (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and UV-Vis absorption spectrometry. Photo-energy conversion of methanol to hydrogen was also conducted over the prepared photocatalysts. The best hydrogen production was achieved by using the TiO2/sericite photocatalyst to give a hydrogen production rate of 1424 mu mol/g center dot h in 6 h of UV-light irradiation.