Hydrogen peroxide synthesis by Au nanoparticle-TiO2-SnO2 plasmonic photocatalyst

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K05674
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 36010:Inorganic compounds and inorganic materials chemistry-related
• Research Institution: Kindai University
• Principal Investigator: Tada Hiroaki 近畿大学, 理工学部, 教授 (60298990)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 光触媒 / 過酸化水素

Outline of Final Research Achievements

As a visible-light-responsive photocatalyst for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) synthesis, I designed a novel ternary plasmonic photocatalyst consisting of Au nanoparticles-TiO2-SnO2 (this photocatalyst). The main research results are summarized below. 1. The desired photocatalyst was synthesized using a two-step method involving hydrothermal synthesis of the TiO2-SnO2 hybrid and deposition-precipitation of Au nanoparticles (NPs). 2. Irradiation of this photocatalyst-fixed FTO electrode provides current in the whole visible light region. 3. This photocatalyst exhibits high photocatalytic activity for hydrogen peroxide generation via two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e ORR). 4. The high photocatalytic activity can stem from a combined effect of effective charge separation, electrocatalytic activity of Au NPs for 2e ORR, and low activity of SnO2 for H2O2 decomposition.

Free Research Field

光触媒

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

過酸化水素は、クリーンな酸化剤としてのみならず、燃料電池用の燃料としても有望であることから、今後その重要性が一層増すものと予想される。現在、安全かつ環境に優しいon-site合成法の開発が強く望まれている。その有望な方法の一つが、酸素二電子還元による過酸化水素光触媒合成である。本研究では、太陽光を有効に利用して酸素から過酸化水素を合成することのできる新奇プラズモニック光触媒の開発に成功した。