Photocatalytic hydrogen production has attracted attention as a clean solar hydrogen-generation system. High crystallinity and high surface area are important properties required for high efficiency photocatalysts. Two-dimensional semiconductor nanocrystals (nanosheets) prepared by exfoliation of layered metal oxides are ideal materials that can satisfy both of these requirements. In this study, we report doping of noble metal into the nanosheet as a new approach to improve the photocatalytic activity. In general, a catalyst without co-catalyst loading has poor photocatalytic activity, while the Rh-doped oxide nanosheets exhibited high photocatalytic activity for H2 production from a water/methanol system without co-catalyst loading. The quantum efficiency at 300 nm was 65%. The conductivity of the catalyst was decreased by doping, which indicates the RhO6 units in the lattice of the nanosheet function as electron trap sites. The RhO6 units in the nanosheet probably act as reaction sites for H2 evaluation.

2D nanocrystals for photocatalytic hydrogen production from water

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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