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    Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production Using Porous 3D Graphene-Based Aerogels Supporting Pt/TiO2 Nanoparticles

    Year: 2022

    Journal: Gels, Volume 8, NOV

    Authors: Kubovics, Marta; Silva, Claudia G.; Lopez-Periago, Ana M.; Faria, Joaquim L.; Domingo, Concepcion

    Organizations: Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation MICINN through the Severo Ochoa Program for Centers of Excellence [CEX2019-000917-S]; Spanish National Plan of Research [PID2020-115631GB-I00]; national funds through FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC) [LA/P/0045/2020, UIDB/50020/2020, UIDP/50020/2020]; European Union [MSCA-COFUND-DP/0320-754397]; Short Term Scientific Mission (STSM) from the Greenering network by the COST Association

    Keywords: aerogel; graphene oxide; supercritical CO2; photocatalysis; H-2 production

    Composites involving reduced graphene oxide (rGO) aerogels supporting Pt/TiO2 nanoparticles were fabricated using a one-pot supercritical CO2 gelling and drying method, followed by mild reduction under a N-2 atmosphere. Electron microscopy images and N-2 adsorption/desorption isotherms indicate the formation of 3D monolithic aerogels with a meso/macroporous morphology. A comprehensive evaluation of the synthesized photocatalyst was carried out with a focus on the target application: the photocatalytic production of H-2 from methanol in aqueous media. The reaction conditions (water/methanol ratio, catalyst concentration), together with the aerogel composition (Pt/TiO2/rGO ratio) and architecture (size of the aerogel pieces), were the factors that varied in optimizing the process. These experimental parameters influenced the diffusion of the reactants/products inside the aerogel, the permeability of the porous structure, and the light-harvesting properties, all determined in this study towards maximizing H-2 production. Using methanol as the sacrificial agent, the measured H-2 production rate for the optimized system (18,800 mu mol(H2)h(-1)g(NPs)(-1)) was remarkably higher than the values found in the literature for similar Pt/TiO2/rGO catalysts and reaction media (2000-10,000 mu mol(H2)h(-1)g(NPs)(-1)).
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