Bulk semiconductor materials, such as TiO2 and CdS, have low hydrogen evolution rates; in contrast, an alternative way would include placing many photocatalytically active species on a high surface area inert support.  The present study employed chromium-doped mesoporous silica denoted as Cr-MCM-48 in the UV-hydrogen evolution with methanol sacrificial reagent.  The benefit of using bi-continuous Ia3d cubic Cr-MCM-48 mesoporous silica was noted by increased hydrogen evolution rate at low chromium ion loading and type of counter-ion used in synthesis preparation.  This study attempted to understand the influence of the counter-ion on formation of the Ia3d cubic structure and chromium ion loading.  The outcomes of the present research indicate counter-ion and chromium ion loading directly affect level of incorporation of the active species and Ia3d bi-continuous cubic structure. The application of these materials for photocatalytic splitting of water towards solar hydrogen will be discussed in the presentation.

Exploration of Cr-MCM-48 mesoporous materials for solar hydrogen production

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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