Synergistic Effect of Redox Dual PdOx/MnOx Cocatalysts on the Enhanced H2 Production Potential of a SnS/α-Fe2O3 Heterojunction via Ethanol Photoreforming

In the quest for optimal H2 evolution (HE) through ethanol photoreforming, a dual cocatalyst-modified heterocatalyst strategy is utilized. Tin(II) sulfide (SnS) was hybridized with alpha-Fe2O3 to form the heterocatalyst FeOSnS with a p-n heterojunction structure as confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV-vis diffusive reflectance spectroscopy (UV- vis DRS), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) techniques. PdOx and PdOx/MnOx cocatalysts were loaded onto the FeOSnS heterocatalyst through the impregnation method, as verified by high-resolution transform electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spec-troscopy (XPS), and elemental mapping. Photocatalytic ethanol photoreforming resulted in the production of H2 as the main product with a selectivity of 99% and some trace amounts of CH4. The FeOSnS2-PdOx 2%/MnOx 1% photocatalyst achieved the highest HE rate of 1654 mu mol/g, attributed to the synergistic redox contribution of the PdOx and MnOx species.

Automated summary

In this study, a dual cocatalyst-modified heterocatalyst strategy was employed to achieve optimal H2 evolution through ethanol photoreforming. The FeOSnS heterocatalyst with a p-n heterojunction structure was prepared, and PdOx and MnOx cocatalysts were loaded onto the FeOSnS heterocatalyst. The photocatalytic ethanol photoreforming process resulted in high selectivity for H2 production, with a synergistic redox contribution from the PdOx and MnOx species.