Enhancing catalytic performance holds promise for hydrogen production by water splitting in sunlight.
Abstract
Direct splitting of water using a particulate photocatalyst would be a good way to produce clean and recyclable hydrogen on a large scale1, and in the past 30 years various photocatalysts have been found that function under visible light2,3,4. Here we describe an advance in the catalysis of the overall splitting of water under visible light: the new catalyst is a solid solution of gallium and zinc nitrogen oxide5,6, (Ga1−xZnx)(N1−xOx), modified with nanoparticles of a mixed oxide of rhodium and chromium. The mixture functions as a promising and efficient photocatalyst in promoting the evolution of hydrogen gas.
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Overall water splitting on the Rh–Cr mixed oxide-loaded (Ga1–xZnx)(N1–xOx) (sample B) at atmospheric pressure. In this case, where a Pyrex glass vessel is employed without any other light filtration, both ultraviolet light at 365 nm and visible light at 436 nm contribute to the reaction. (MPG 8826 kb)
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Maeda, K., Teramura, K., Lu, D. et al. Photocatalyst releasing hydrogen from water. Nature 440, 295 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/440295a
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/440295a
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