Guowei Wang, Siyi Li, Jing Qiao, Hongbo Zhang, Jun Wang

College of Chemistry, Liaoning University

Xue Ma, Chunquan Wang, Guanshu Li, Youtao Song

College of Environment, Liaoning University

Abstract

Here, a novel coated composite, Er³⁺:YAlO₃/Ta₂O₅/rGO/MoSe₂, was successfully prepared by sol-hydrothermal and calcination methods, in which the MoSe₂ and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) hybrids as co-catalyst were used to act as the electron collector and active reaction sites. Er³⁺:YAlO₃, MoSe₂/rGO, Er³⁺:YAlO₃/Ta₂O₅ and Er³⁺:YAlO₃/Ta₂O₅/rGO/MoSe₂ were all characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectrum, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). UV–vis absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectra of Er³⁺:YAlO₃ were also measured. The photocatalytic hydrogen production activity of Er³⁺:YAlO₃/Ta₂O₅/rGO/MoSe₂ was examined under visible-light irradiation. The main influence factors such as initial solution pH and mass ratio of Ta₂O₅ and MoSe₂/rGO on visible-light photocatalytic hydrogen production activity of Er³⁺:YAlO₃/Ta₂O₅/rGO/MoSe₂ were discussed in detail. The results showed that the coated composite (Er³⁺:YAlO₃/ Ta₂O₅/rGO/MoSe₂) with 99.25:0.75 mass ratio of Ta₂O₅ and MoSe₂/rGO in methanol aqueous solution at pH = 6.00 could display the highest photocatalytic hydrogen production activity. Furthermore, a high level of photocatalytic activity can be still maintained within five cycles under the same conditions. It implies that the novel coated composite, Er³⁺:YAlO₃/ Ta₂O₅/rGO/MoSe₂, may be a promising photocatalyst utilizing solar energy for hydrogen production.

Read the full article here:  70-Highly efficient visible-light driven photocatalytic hydrogen evolution over Er3+YAIO(3)Ta2O5rGOMoSe2 nanocomposite.pdf