Comparison of the substrate dependent performance of Pt-, Au- and Ag-doped TiO2 photocatalysts in H2-production and in decomposition of various organics

Pt-, Au- and Ag-deposited Degussa P25 photocatalysts at 1% (m/m) noble metal loading] were prepared in which the noble metals are most likely to be very finely dispersed on the surface of the TiO₂ nanocrystals. Deposition of noble metals increased the photocatalytic efficiency (relative to the bare photocatalyst) in the decomposition of oxalic- and formic acid, while decreased it in phenol containing systems. In H₂-production, a very high quantum yield has been found for the Pt–TiO₂ photocatalyst in the presence of oxalic and formic acids as sacrificial reagents, which opens the possibility for the economic use of industrial side products (e.g., oxalic- and formic acid) for photocatalytic H₂-production.