Effect of Pt loading and calcination temperature on the photocatalytic hydrogen production activity of TiO2 microspheres

TiO2 microspheres were synthesized by hydrothermal reaction using Ti(OBu)4 as the precursor. In order to enhance the efficiency of water splitting by the TiO2 microspheres, Pt-modified TiO2 microspheres were prepared by the impregnation-reduction method. The diameter of TiO2 microspheres is around 5–10 μm. The photocatalytic performances of the catalysts were measured by hydrogen generation from a mixture of water and methanol under UV light irradiation. The photocatalytic activity of the TiO2 microspheres was remarkably enhanced by loading Pt. The optimal Pt loading is 1.2 wt%. Pt/TiO2 microspheres exhibit about 125 times greater H2 production rate than the unmodified TiO2 microspheres. The effect of calcination temperature on photocatalytic activity of the TiO2 microspheres was also investigated.