Photocatalytic generation of H2 gas from neat ethanol over Pt/TiO2 nanotube catalysts

TiO2 nanotubes promoted with Pt metal were prepared and tested to be the photocatalytic dehydrogenation catalyst in neat ethanol for producing H-2 gas (C2H5OH --> C3CHO + H-2). It was found that the ability to produce H-2, the liquid phase product distribution and the catalyst stability of these promoted nano catalysts all depended on the Pt loading and catalyst preparation procedure. These Pt/TiO2 catalysts with TiO2 nanotubes washed with diluted H2SO4 solution produced 1,2-diethoxy ethane (acetal) as the major liquid phase product, while over those washed with diluted HCl solution or H2O, acetaldehyde was the major liquid phase product.