J. Cent. South Univ. Technol. (2010) 17: 943-946

DOI: 10.1007/s11771-010-0581-6

Light energy conversion device for photocatalyst 2.0%WO₃-TiO₂ withoxygen vacancies for water splitting

TONG Hai-xia(童海霞)¹, CHEN Qi-yuan(陈启元)², HU Hui-ping(胡慧萍)², YIN Zhou-lan(尹周澜)²

1. Institute of Chemical and Biologic Engineering, Changsha University of Science and Technology,

Changsha 410076, China;

2. School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China

? Central South University Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010

Abstract: Using carbon felt, polytetrafluoroethylene latex and powder catalyst to assembly a light energy conversion device, the photocatalytic activity of catalyst 2.0%WO₃-TiO₂ (2%WO₃ compounding TiO₂) with oxygen vacancies was studied through the water splitting for O₂ evolution, using a high pressure mercury lamp as the light source and Fe³⁺ as the electron acceptor in two different devices: an ordinary photolysis device with catalyst powder suspending through a magnetic stirrer and a self-assembly light energy conversion device. The results show that after 12 h irradiation, the photocatalytic activity of 2.0%WO₃-TiO₂ with oxygen vacancies in the self-assembly light energy conversion device is higher than that of the ordinary photolysis device, and the amount of oxygen evolution is about 12 and 9 mmol/L respectively in these two devices. After 12 h, the rates of O₂ evolution are slow in each device and the photocatalyst almost loses the photoactivity in the ordinary photolysis device. So, compared with the ordinary photocatalytic device, the rate of oxygen evolution and the life time of the catalyst are improved in the self-assembly light energy conversion device.

Key words: light energy conversion device; photocatalytic activity; O₂ evolution; oxygen vacancy; photo splitting water

With the gradual depletion of fossil energy, more and more attention is paid to renewable hydrogen energy [1-7]. The key to the development of hydrogen energy is to produce hydrogen at a large-scale and low-cost. The main existing technologies for hydrogen production are as follows [8]: (1) electrolysis water to produce  hydrogen, which will consume electric energy, and most of which is from fossil fuels; (2) using biomass to produce hydrogen energy, which is a way to obtain low-cost hydrogen energy; (3) photo splitting water to produce hydrogen energy, which is the main way to obtain hydrogen on a large-scale and at low-cost, which is regarded as the most prospective hydrogen producing technology in the 21st century. There are three paths to achieve photo splitting water [9]: (1) electrochemical decomposition of water to produce hydrogen through photo-electro-chemical pool. The solar energy is converted into electric energy through the photoelectrode and then electrolyzed water into H₂ and O₂ from the anode and cathode, respectively. It is easy to realize the decomposition of water in this way but there is a low energy conservation efficiency because the solar energy should firstly be converted into electric energy to electrolyze water to produce H₂; (2) photo-complexing decomposition of water to produce H₂. Using transition metals such as porphyrin as a photosensitizer to decompose water into H₂ and O₂ through false photosynthesis, and this process simulates the photosynthesis of plants. However, photosensitizers are so expensive and the catalysts are easy to loss their activities, which results in high cost of H₂; and (3) photo splitting water by semiconductor photocatalysts. A series of semiconductor photocatalysts such as TiO₂ catalytically split water molecules into hydrogen molecules and oxygen molecules through the conversion of solar energy. This method is environmental friendly, and of great strategic significance for the development of new energy sources. In the experimental procedure, magnetic stirrer must be used to keep the catalyst powder suspended, which causes the increase of the cost of H₂ evolution. In 2007, MASAAKI et al [10] produced H₂ and O₂ by photocatalytic splitting water using Pt-loaded visible light-responsive TiO₂ thin film photocatalysts.

The thin film photocatalytic device consisted of two parts: one was a Ti foil substrate deposited with a TiO₂ thin film on one side, which was immersed in 1.0 mol/L NaOH and Pt particle (0.68 mg/cm²) on the other side, which was immersed in 0.5 mol/L H₂SO₄ aqueous solution in order to add a small chemical bias to assist the electron side to the Pt side through the metal substrate; the other is a Nafion film which was mounted at the center of an H-type glass container. After irradiation for 15 h, the evolution of H₂ and O₂ observed was about 1.2 and 0.6 ?mol, respectively. In order to improve the rate of gas evolution, MASAYA et al [11] modified the catalysts and the rates of H₂ and O₂ evolution were increased greatly to 80 and 40 ?mol within 7 h irradiation, respectively.

In our research group the reaction of photocatalytic splitting water into H₂ and O₂ was carried out via two half reactions in the “Double-Bed” splitting water system. One is the photo-reduction with H₂ evolution and the other is the photo-oxidation with O₂ evolution using Cr-K₂La₂Ti₃O₁₀ [12] and 2.0% WO₃-TiO₂ [13] as catalysts, respectively. At last, the two half reactions were connected in the light energy conversion device. In this work, the half reaction of the photo-oxidation with O₂ evolution was investigated using Fe³⁺ as electron acceptors and 2% WO₃-TiO₂ with oxygen vacancies as catalysts.

2 Theory of water photolysis device

From the chemical thermodynamics, under the standard state (101.325 kPa, 298.15 K) the change in normal mole Gibbs functionof the reaction H₂(g)+1/2O₂(g)=H₂O(l) is -237.19 kJ/mol＜0, which means that the reaction can occur automatically. The reaction of the water formation can be designed to cellⅠ:

-)Pt | H₂(p^Θ) | H⁺(a=1) | O₂(p^Θ) | Pt(+Anode reaction: 1/2O₂+2H⁺+2e=H₂O

Cathod reaction: H₂-2e=2H⁺Cell reaction: H₂ (p^Θ)+1/2O₂ (p^Θ)=H₂O (l)

At 298.15 K, the electrical potential difference between the anode and the cathode is 1.23 V. The  (298.15 K, p^Θ) of the reaction of water decomposition into H₂ and O₂: H₂O(l)=H₂(g)+1/2O₂(g) is 237.19 kJ/mol ＞0, indicating that the reaction cannot occur automatically. ?_rG_T^Θ=246 856-55.96 T (J/mol) of reaction H₂O(g)=H₂(g)+1/2O₂(g) is 246.8 kJ/mol [14], so it needs a very high temperature to split water automatically. The reaction of the water decomposition can be designed to cell Ⅱ:

－)Pt | O₂(p^Θ) | H⁺(a=1) | H₂(p^Θ) | Pt(+Anode reaction: 2H⁺+2e=H₂

Cathode reaction: H₂O-2e=1/2O₂+2H⁺Cell reaction: H₂O (l) =H₂ (p^Θ)+1/2O₂ (p^Θ)

At 298.15 K, the reaction of H₂ evolution takes place on the anode of the cell, and the reaction of O₂ evolution takes place on the cathode of the cell with the electrical potential difference being 1.23 V. That is, the electromotive force of the cell is -1.23 V.

If the electromotive force of the cell can be changed into positive value (＞0 ) the reaction of the cell Ⅱ will occur, automatically, that is, the decomposition of water H₂O(l) =H₂(g)+1/2O₂(g) will take place automatically. Due to the effect of light, the required balance potential of the illuminated semiconductor electrodes is lower than that of the unilluminated semiconductor electrode in the electrochemical reaction. So, if a suitable semiconductor is chosen as the electrode of cell Ⅱ, the electric potential for H₂ evolution will change more positively, and the electric potential for O₂ evolution will change more negatively after illuminated. When the electric potential for H₂ evolution is more positive than that for O₂ evolution, and the electrical were potential difference of cell Ⅱ changes into a positive value (＞0), the decomposition of water H₂O(l)= H₂(g)+1/2O₂(g) will take place automatically. The schematic diagram of cell Ⅱ for photo splitting water with H₂ and O₂ evolution is shown in Fig.1.

Fig.1 Schematic diagram of cell Ⅱ for photo splitting water with H₂ and O₂ evolution

The shortcomings and the solutions of the semiconductor particles suspended in the water for the water photolysis reaction are as follows.

(1) To keep powder particles suspended in water photolysis device a stirrer should be used, which has to consume energy.

(2) It is difficult to separate powder particles from the solution. So, when renewing the solution of electron acceptors or electron donors, the reaction should be stopped. Therefore, the catalyst powder is fixed and prepared as the semiconductor electrode to address the above-mentioned powder suspension with the issue of water photolysis and at the same time to ensure the catalytic activity of the materials. It is convenient to make use of light energy to fix catalyst powder as semiconductor electrode. The device of water splitting can be built as an electrochemical reactor just like cell Ⅱ, and even the electron acceptors or electron donors can be replaced by the electron transfer between the photoelectrodes in the device.

3 Experimental

3.1 Fabrication of 2.0%WO₃-TiO₂ photoelectrode

Because of its large porosity, good electrical conductivity and irregular three-dimensional network structure, the carbon felt composed of carbon fibers was chosen as the vector for the fixing of the catalyst powder 2.0%WO₃-TiO₂ with oxygen vacancies. The detailed steps are as follows.

(1) Each side of the carbon felt (3 cm×14 cm×  18 cm) was coated with a thin blanket of polytetrafluoroethylene latex and then put on the electric oven and thermally treated for 0.5 h at about 100 ℃. Thus, the polytetrafluoroetheylene latex was solidified, and the carbon felt was coated and filmed.

(2) The catalyst powder 2.0%WO₃-TiO₂ with oxygen vacancies was dispersed evenly on the side of the carbon felt processed as step (1). Then, the carbon felt was loaded with the catalyst powder and rolled into a cylinder which was then stitched. So, TiO₂ photocathode was finished.

3.2 Light energy conversion device

The ordinary photolysis device is shown in Fig.2 [16]. In the device magnetic stirrer was used to keep the

Fig.2 Sketch map of ordinary photocatalytic reactor: 1—Hg lamp; 2—Glass jacket; 3—Magnetic bar; 4—Cooling water inlet; 5—Cooling water outlet; 6—Mixture of reactor; 7— Cooling water; 8—Outlet; 9—Magnetic stirrer

catalyst powder suspended. However, in the self- assembly light energy conversion device (shown in Fig.3) the catalyst powder was fixed and prepared as semiconductor photo electrode, and no additional electric energy was consumed to keep it suspended in the catalytic procedure. The carbon felt in the self-assembly device acted as an electrode. The reaction formed a primary cell during the process of photo reaction in our self-assembly light energy conversion device as follows:-)C|2.0%WO₃-TiO₂ with oxygen vacancies, 2.0%WO₃-TiO₂ with oxygen vacancies (h⁺, e^-), H₂O, O₂, H⁺, Fe³⁺, Fe²⁺∣C (+,Because of the conductivity of the carbon felt, the distance of the photo-electrons and the holes is enlarged, which hinders their recombination. The photo catalytic activity of 2.0%WO₃-TiO₂ with oxygen vacancies was improved.

Fig.3 Sketch map of light energy conversion device

4 Results and discussion

Compared with the ordinary photolysis device, the self-assembly light energy conversion device becomes simpler and higher-energy efficient because the magnetic stirrer is no longer required to keep the catalyst powder suspended in the self-assembly light energy conversion device.

The photocatalytic activities of 2.0%WO₃-TiO₂ with oxygen vacancies were studied through the splitting water for O₂ evolution under UV-light irradiation using Fe³⁺ as electron acceptors in the ordinary device and the self-assembly device, respectively. The results are presented in Figs.4 and 5. After 12 h irradiation the amount of oxygen is about 12 and 9 mmol/L  respectively in these two devices, and the average rate of O₂ evolution in the ordinary photolysis device is larger than that in the ordinary photolysis device. From Fig.5 in the self-assembly device the largest amount for O₂ evolution is about 2.295 mmol/L at the 4th hour irradiation and 1.699 mmol/L in the ordinary device at the 9th hour. After 12 h irradiation, the rates of O₂ evolution are slow in each device, and the photo catalyst almost loses the photoactivity in the ordinary photolysis device. So the life time of the catalyst in the light energy conversion device is a little longer than that in the ordinary photocatalytic device.

Fig.4 Catalytic activities of catalyst 2%WO₃-TiO₂ with oxygen vacancies in ordinary device and self-assembly device

Fig.5 Comparison of rates of O₂ evolution in ordinary device and self-assembly device in each hour

5 Conclusions

(1) The catalyst 2.0%WO₃-TiO₂ with oxygen vacancies is attached in the carbon felt, and used to make semiconductor photoelectrode under the effect of polytetrafluoroethylene. The problem of keeping the catalyst powder suspended through the use of outside energy is solved.

(2) After 12 h irradiation the amount of oxygen is about 12 and 9 mmol/L, respectively in the self-assembly light energy conversion device. The rates of O₂ evolution are slow in each device and the photo catalyst almost loses the photoactivity in the ordinary photolysis device.

(3) Compared with that in the ordinary photocatalytic device, the rate of oxygen evolution and the life time of the catalyst are improved in the self-assembly light energy conversion device.

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(Edited by YANG You-ping)

Foundation item: Project(2010CL04) supported by the Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Materials Protection for Electric Power and Transportation, China; Project(K-081025) supported by State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Photocatalysis, Fuzhou University, China

Received date: 2010-01-12; Accepted date: 2010-04-08

Corresponding author: TONG Hai-xia, PhD; Tel: +86-731-85258733; E-mail: tonghaixia@126.com