Work

Cu-based MOFs/TiO 2 Chitosan Beads for Green Photocatalytic H 2 Generation

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Designing supported photocatalysts for photocatalytic hydrogen production is essential to overcome the time-consuming or expensive photocatalyst post-collection additional step. Herein, a copper-based Metal–Organic Framework (MOF)/TiO 2 (HKUST-1/TiO 2 ) composite photocatalyst, very promising for hydrogen generation, was encapsulated in chitosan (CS) spherical beads. These millimeter-sized photocatalytic beads were synthesized via a three-step method, and diffuse reflectance as well as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopies assert that HKUST-1/TiO 2 is not altered by the synthesis process. Moreover, time-resolved microwave conductivity (TRMC) characterization proves that the charge carriers’ dynamics is not altered by the encapsulation of HKUST-1/TiO 2 . The beads possess a good photocatalytic activity for hydrogen generation under UV–visible light. The number of beads and their stability with cycling were also investigated. A significantly higher hydrogen generation with hydrated beads (459 μmol/g/h) was measured compared to the one with dried beads (45 μmol/g/h) according to better water and hydrogen diffusion in the hydrated beads. The highest production rate reaches 854 μmol/g/h with 4 HKUST-1/TiO 2 CS beads loaded with 0.36 mg of photocatalyst per bead. Recyclability tests reveal good durability without a significant loss in efficiency.

Source: ACS Applied Energy Materials

DOI: 10.1021/acsaem.5c02179

Authors: Marie Le Pivert, Alisha Khan, Mireille Benoît, Christophe Colbeau-Justin, Johnny Deschamps, Hynd Remita