Mesoporous TiO2 Embedded with a Uniform Distribution of CuO Exhibit Enhanced Charge Separation and Photocatalytic Efficiency

Authors

Yu-Te Liao, National Taiwan University
Yu-Yuan Huang, National Taiwan University
Hao Chen, National Taiwan University
Kenji Komaguchi, Hiroshima University
Chia-Hung Hou, National Taiwan University
Joel Henzie, National Institute for Materials Science, Japan
Yusuke Yamauchi, University of WollongongFollow
Yusuke Ide, National Institute for Materials Science, Japan
Kevin C.-W Wu, National Taiwan UniversityFollow

RIS ID

118202

Publication Details

Liao, Y., Huang, Y., Chen, H. Ming., Komaguchi, K., Hou, C., Henzie, J., Yamauchi, Y., Ide, Y. & Wu, K. C.-W. (2017). Mesoporous TiO2 Embedded with a Uniform Distribution of CuO Exhibit Enhanced Charge Separation and Photocatalytic Efficiency. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 9 (49), 42425-42429.

Abstract

Mixed metal oxide nanoparticles have interesting physical and chemical properties, but synthesizing them with colloidal methods is still challenging and often results in very heterogeneous structures. Here, we describe a simple method to synthesize mesoporous titania nanoparticles implanted with a uniform distribution of copper oxide nanocrystals (CuO@MTs). By calcining a titanium-based metal-organic framework (MIL-125) in the presence of Cu ions, we can trap the Cu in the TiO 2 matrix. Removal of the organic ligand creates mesoporosity and limits phase separation so that tiny CuO nanocrystals form in the interstices of the TiO 2 . The CuO@MTs exhibits superior performance for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (4760 μmol h -1 ) that is > 90 times larger than pristine titania.