Eosin Y-sensitized ZnO/TiO2 for efficient visible light photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

ABSTRACTIn this work a series of Eosin Y-ZnO(x%)/TiO2 were prepared. ZnO well dispersed on the surface of TiO2, which improves the adsorption of Eosin Y and the excited electron to transfer to the conduction band of TiO2. Therefore the visible light activity of 0.2%Pt-Eosin Y-ZnO(x%)/TiO2 is much higher than that of the 0.2%Pt-Eosin Y-TiO2 and 0.2%Pt-Eosin Y-ZnO. The 0.2%Pt-Eosin Y- ZnO(1.5%)/TiO2 has the highest visible light activity among the catalysts coupled with various ZnO amount, whose activity is increased by a factor of 3.5 compared to that of 0.2%Pt-Eosin Y-TiO2. It is proposed that, 0.2%Pt-Eosin Y-ZnO(1.5%)/TiO2 has the optimal trapping sites of carriers and thickness of the space-charge layer on the TiO2 particle surface, so these factors result a more efficient charge separation, an increased lifetime of the charge carriers, and the enhanced of hydrogen production .