New titania-based photocatalysts for hydrogen production from aqueous-alcoholic solutions of methylene blue

A series of CuO_x–TiO₂ photocatalysts were prepared using fresh and thermally activated Evonik Aeroxide P25 titanium dioxide. The photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, XANES, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and N₂ adsorption technique. Photocatalytic activity of the samples was tested in hydrogen production from aqueous-alcoholic solutions of methylene blue under UV radiation (λ = 386 nm). It was found for the first time the synergistic effect of hydrogen production from two substrates—dye and ethanol. The maximum hydrogen production rate in the system water–ethanol–methylene blue was 1 μmol min⁻¹, which is 25 times higher than a value measured in a 10% solution of ethanol in water. The thermal activation of titania also leads to a change in the rate of hydrogen production. The highest catalytic activity was observed for a CuO_x–TiO₂ photocatalyst based on titania thermally-activated at 600 °C in air. A mechanism of the photocatalytic reaction is discussed.