Improving Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production with Sol–Gel Prepared NiTiO₃/TiO₂ Composite
This study presents a comprehensive investigation into the synthesis, characterization, and photocatalytic performance of NiTiO<sub>3</sub>/TiO<sub>2</sub> nanocomposites for solar hydrogen production. Through a carefully optimized sol–gel method, we synthesized a heterojunct...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Energies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/23/5830 |
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| Summary: | This study presents a comprehensive investigation into the synthesis, characterization, and photocatalytic performance of NiTiO<sub>3</sub>/TiO<sub>2</sub> nanocomposites for solar hydrogen production. Through a carefully optimized sol–gel method, we synthesized a heterojunction photocatalyst comprising 99.2% NiTiO<sub>3</sub> and 0.8% anatase TiO<sub>2</sub>. Extensive characterization using XRD, Raman spectroscopy, FTIR, UV–visible spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and TEM revealed the formation of an intimate heterojunction between rhombohedral NiTiO<sub>3</sub> and anatase TiO<sub>2</sub>. The nanocomposite demonstrated remarkable improvements in optical and electronic properties, including enhanced UV–visible light absorption and an 85% reduction in charge carrier recombination compared to pristine NiTiO<sub>3</sub>. Crystallite size analysis showed a reduction from 53.46 nm to 46.35 nm upon TiO<sub>2</sub> incorporation, leading to increased surface area and active sites. High-resolution TEM confirmed the formation of well-defined interfaces between NiTiO<sub>3</sub> and TiO<sub>2</sub>, with lattice fringes of 0.349 nm and 0.249 nm corresponding to their respective crystallographic planes. Under UV irradiation, the NiTiO<sub>3</sub>/TiO<sub>2</sub> nanocomposite exhibited superior photocatalytic performance, achieving a hydrogen evolution rate of 9.74 μmol min−1, representing a 17.1% improvement over pristine NiTiO<sub>3</sub>. This enhancement is attributed to the synergistic effects of improved light absorption, reduced charge recombination, and efficient charge separation at the heterojunction interface. Our findings demonstrate the potential of NiTiO<sub>3</sub>/TiO<sub>2</sub> nanocomposites as efficient photocatalysts for solar hydrogen production and contribute to the development of advanced materials for renewable energy applications. |
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| ISSN: | 1996-1073 |