Synthesis and Photocatalytic Property of Hectorite/(Pt,TiO2) and H4Nb6O17/(Pt,TiO2) Nanocomposites

Abstract

TiO₂ and Pt have been intercalated in hectorite and H₄Nb₆O₁₇. The height of TiO₂ and Pt pillars was less than 0.8 nm and the band gap energy of TiO₂ pillars was ca. 3.3 eV. Both hectorite/TiO₂ and H₄Nb₆O₁₇(Pt, TiO₂) were capable of hydrogen evolution following irradiation from a high pressure mercury are (λ > 290 nm) in the presence of methanol as a sacrificial hole acceptor and the hydrogen evolution was enhanced by co-incorporation of Pt, although hectorite and hectorite/Pt did not show photocatalytic activity. Incorporation of Pt or Pt and TiO₂ in the interlayer of H₄Nb₆O₁₇ has resulted in enhanced photo evolution of hydrogen, however, TiO₂ alone in the interlayer of H₄Nb₆O₁₇ showed adverse photocatalytic activity.