Photocatalytic hydrogen generation over Pt-TiO2 with oxalic acid as electron donor

The present work was carried out in order to couple photocatalytic hydrogen generation with degradation of pollutants. With oxalic acid as electron do nor, the photocatalytic hydrogen generation over Pt-TiO2 has been investiga ted. Oxalic acid promotes hydrogen generation markedly. The hydrogen genera tion and the degradation of oxalic acid can be carried out simultaneously i n this reaction system. The photocatalyst was prepared by photodeposition. The average Pt particle size measured by TEM is about 1 similar to 2 nm. Pt deposited on TiO2 also enhances the reaction rate notably. The optimal Pt amount deposited on TiO2 is omega (Pt) = 0. 5 %. Effect of the concentratio n of oxalic acid on the reaction rate is consistent with the Langmuir model . The optimal pH values for this reaction are between 2 and 4.