Blue ordered/disordered Janus-type TiO2 nanoparticles for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen generation

Abstract

Photochemical hydrogen generation from water is a promising solution to concurrently tackle energy and environmental problems. However, the solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiencies of most photocatalysts are still unsatisfactory due to two major limiting factors: the non-ideal band structure of photocatalysts and the fast recombination of photo-generated charge carriers. Herein, we report a Janus-type TiO₂ heterojunction consisting of ordered blue-anatase and disordered black-rutile phases fabricated by the magnesiothermic reduction process. In this process, the surface enthalpy difference of rutile and anatase phases in P25-TiO₂ allows the phase-selective reduction to afford novel blue ordered/disordered Janus heterostructure. The joint effect of the improved light absorption and charge separation by the disordered black-rutile phase and the high catalytic activity of the ordered blue-anatase phase, as well as the morphological advantage over order@disorder core–shell structures, significantly enhances the photocatalytic hydrogen production rate to 1.56 mmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹ (11.53 mmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹ with ∼1 wt% Pt), which delivers 13-fold enhancement compared to pristine P25-TiO₂.