<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language: HI" lang="EN-GB">In₂O₃/TiO₂nano photocatalysts for solar hydrogen production from methanol:water mixtures</span>

Abstract

In₂O₃/nano TiO₂and In₂O₃/TiO₂(P-25) photocatalysts with different In₂O₃ loadings have been prepared by solid state dispersion method. These catalysts are characterized by XRD, surface area, TEM, UV-vis DRS and XPS techniques. XRD analysis shows the fine dispersion of In₂O₃ on the surface of TiO₂. The photocombinates of In₂O₃prepared using the lab-made TiO₂ are nano sized with an average size of 8–10 nm compared to the particle size of In₂O₃/TiO₂ (P-25) combinates. The In₂O₃/nano TiO₂ photocatalysts show higher surface area as compared to In₂O₃/TiO₂(P-25) photocatalysts due to nanosize of the particles. UV-vis DRS results show the visible light absorption of the catalysts in both the series. XPS analysis shows the interaction between In₂O₃ and TiO₂, although the extent of interaction is low. Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution studies have been conducted over these catalysts from water and methanol:water mixtures under solar light irradiation. The 2 wt% In₂O₃ loaded nano TiO₂ and P-25 catalysts show maximum hydrogen production activity from pure water splitting. A very good improvement in the activity is seen when the reaction is carried out in methanol:water mixtures. Maximum hydrogen production of 4080 µmoles/hour is observed on 5 wt% In₂O₃/nano TiO₂catalyst, which is almost double the activity observed on In₂O₃/ TiO₂(P-25) catalyst.