Novel nano-structured for the improvement of photo-catalyzed hydrogen production via water splitting with in-situ nano-carbon formation

Photocatalytic water splitting is a promising process for producing H-2 from two abundant renewable sources, namely, water and solar light, with the aid of suitable photocatalysts. In a previous research study, the team of this work succeeded in enhancing the production of H-2 during the water splitting using synthesized Chalcogenide photocatalytic nanoparticles of d-group elements based semiconductors (ZnO and CdS) via a photochemical reaction under UV-light in the presence of methanol as a hole-scavenger. In the current work, a new nano-structured mixed oxide based material in a Perovskite structure is introduced as a novel semiconductor for the water splitting application. The combination of the aforementioned semiconductors and Perovskite in order to improve the photocatalytic activity for an enhanced hydrogen production through water splitting process under visible light irradiation (sunlight) is also discussed through this study. Unpredictable results based on the utilization of Perovskite individually or combined with the other semiconductors were obtained. Hydrogen was aggrandized (since a pioneering and unexpected hydrogen yield was obtained) accompanied with the formation of carbon-species which disclose an innovative reaction mechanism through this research. These results were emphasized by different tools analysis, namely Raman microscopy, SEM, TEM, and surface area. The results obtained in this work reveal that the nano-structured semiconductor/Perovskite system introduced through this work is a promising candidate in the field of hydrogen production with a simultaneous carbon based materials formation. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.