Hydrogen evolution using alloyed AuPd/TiO2 hollow spheres by photoreforming of polyethylene terephthalate waste

Sulaiman NH, Wang S, Yue H, Wei J, Schmuki P, Zhou X (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Journal of Materials Chemistry A Royal Society of Chemistry

DOI: 10.1039/d5ta00189g

Abstract

Hydrogen evolution from water using solar energy is a sustainable approach but is limited by the slow kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction. In this study, hydrogen evolution is performed using a polyethylene terephthalate (PET)-containing electrolyte, where the oxidation of ethylene glycol, one of the monomers from PET, can substitute the oxidation evolution reaction from water. AuPd alloys on high specific surface area TiO2 photocatalysts are prepared by coprecipitation of Au and Pd on amorphous TiO2 hollow spheres. The strong electronic interactions at the interface significantly enhance the catalytic performance for hydrogen evolution (1.26 mmol g−1 h−1), which is a 126 times increase compared to bare TiO2 (0.01 mmol g−1 h−1). Calculations of the formation energy using density functional theory (DFT) suggest that the formation of the AuPdTi alloy is energetically favorable, possibly due to ion diffusion during annealing. The strong metal support interaction due to transfer of electrons at the interface between TiO2 and the nanoalloy can enhance the separation efficiency of charge carriers. Hydrogen is produced from the reduction reaction of protons with electrons at the active AuPdTi sites, and the oxidation reaction takes place due to photogenerated holes at the spherical sites of the AuPdTi nanoalloys on TiO2 HSs. Our findings thus suggest a pathway for designing effective alloyed photocatalysts aimed at the upcycling of PET waste.

Authors with CRIS profile

Patrik Schmuki Lehrstuhl für Werkstoffwissenschaften (Korrosion und Oberflächentechnik) (LKO)

Involved external institutions

Sichuan University (SCU) / 四川大学 CN China (CN) Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) / 大连化学物理研究所 CN China (CN)

How to cite

APA:

Sulaiman, N.H., Wang, S., Yue, H., Wei, J., Schmuki, P., & Zhou, X. (2025). Hydrogen evolution using alloyed AuPd/TiO2 hollow spheres by photoreforming of polyethylene terephthalate waste. Journal of Materials Chemistry A. https://doi.org/10.1039/d5ta00189g

MLA:

Sulaiman, Nashwan H.M., et al. "Hydrogen evolution using alloyed AuPd/TiO2 hollow spheres by photoreforming of polyethylene terephthalate waste." Journal of Materials Chemistry A (2025).

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