CuWO4-x nanoparticles incorporated brookite TiO2 porous nanospheres: Preparation and dramatic photocatalytic activity for light driven H2 generation

CuWO_4-x nanoparticles incorporated brookite TiO₂ porous nanospheres were prepared and investigated for photocatalytic light driven H₂ generation. The as-prepared nanospheres are an efficient and stable noble metal-free photocatalyst for H₂ production. The highest H₂ evolution rate is 9.85 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹, which is 25 times as high as that over the commercial TiO₂ nanoparticles (P25, 0.39 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹). This dramatic photocatalytic activity may be mainly attributed to the following two aspects: (1) the superior separation of the electro-hole pair caused by efficient charge transfer between TiO₂ matrix and CuWO_4-x nanoparticles which follows a Z-scheme-like mechanism, and (2) large specific surface area and abundant micropores. Moreover, also the stability of the as-prepared TiO₂ nanospheres is satisfactory. After two consecutive runs, the photocatalytic activity is still about 90 percent of the initial photocatalytic activity.