CNT-TiO\(_{2-\delta}\) composites for improved co-catalyst dispersion and stabilized photocatalytic hydrogen production

Composites consisting of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) grown directly on oxygen-deficient anatase TiO\(_{2}\) (TiO\(_{2−\delta}\)) were synthesized by a two-step chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method and applied in photocatalytic hydrogen production from aqueous methanol solutions using photodeposited Pt as the co-catalyst. Thermogravimetry coupled with mass spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, photocurrent analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and (scanning) transmission electron microscopy were performed to investigate the physical and (photo)chemical properties of the synthesized CNT-TiO\(_{2−\delta}\) composites before and after photocatalytic methanol reforming. The initial photocatalytic activity of TiO\(_{2}\) was found to be significantly improved in the presence of oxygen vacancies. An optimized amount (~7.2 wt%) of CNTs grown on the TiO\(_{2−\delta}\) surface led to a highly effective stabilization of the photocatalytic performance of TiO\(_{2−\delta}\), which is attributed to the improved dispersion and stability of the photodeposited Pt co-catalyst nanoparticles and enhanced separation efficiency of photogenerated electron-hole pairs, rendering the photocatalysts less prone to deactivation