Deposition of platinum on boron-doped TiO/Ti nanotube arrays as an efficient and stable photocatalyst for hydrogen generation from water splitting.

An efficient photocatalyst of boron-doped titanium dioxide/titanium nanotube array-supported platinum particles (Pt-B/TiO/Ti NTs) was fabricated for photocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen production through a two-step route. First, B/TiO/Ti NTs were prepared by anodic oxidation using hydrofluoric acid as electrolyte and boric acid as a B source. Then, Pt particles were deposited on the surface of B/TiO/Ti NTs by photo-assisted impregnation reduction. The structure and properties of Pt-B/TiO/Ti NTs were characterized by various physical measurements which showed the successful fabrication of Pt-B/TiO/Ti NTs. The Pt-B/TiO/Ti NTs, with a B-doping content of 15 mmol L, showed the highest photocatalytic activity and exhibited a photocatalytic hydrogen-production rate of 384.9 μmol g h, which was 9.2-fold higher than that of unmodified TiO/Ti NTs (41.7 μmol g h). This excellent photocatalytic performance was ascribed mainly to the synergistic effect of Pt and B, which could enhance the photocatalytic activity of TiO/Ti NTs.