TY - JOUR

T1 - A simple sol–gel method for the synthesis of Pt co-catalyzed spinel-type CuFe2O4 for hydrogen production

T2 - the role of crystallinity and band gap energy

AU - Ismael, Mohammed

AU - Wark, Michael

PY - 2024/3/1

Y1 - 2024/3/1

N2 - In this investigation, spinel-type copper ferrites (CuFe2O4) at different calcination temperatures (600–900 °C) were produced using a facile citric acid-assisted sol–gel method. The crystal structure, morphology, optical, and electrical properties of the as synthesized photocatalysts were comprehensively characterized. XRD and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra (UV–vis (DRS)) showed that the phase structure and the band gap energy of the copper ferrite are strongly correlated to the applied calcination temperature. TEM results investigated that the copper ferrites calcined at higher temperatures presented large particle sizes and crystallized very well. In addition, the photocatalytic activity was tested for hydrogen production in the presence of methanol, with and without Pt nanoparticles as a cocatalyst. The results indicated that the CuFe2O4 annealed at 900 °C (CuF-900) has higher hydrogen production activity than photocatalysts calcined at lower temperatures in the presence and absence of Pt, which is mainly assigned to the higher crystallinity, and narrower bandgap energy. Moreover, this study explained in more detail the role of Pt nanoparticles in enhancing the photocatalytic activity of CuF-900. This work introduces a new direction of thinking for the tetragonal phase structure as an efficient photocatalyst for hydrogen production.

AB - In this investigation, spinel-type copper ferrites (CuFe2O4) at different calcination temperatures (600–900 °C) were produced using a facile citric acid-assisted sol–gel method. The crystal structure, morphology, optical, and electrical properties of the as synthesized photocatalysts were comprehensively characterized. XRD and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra (UV–vis (DRS)) showed that the phase structure and the band gap energy of the copper ferrite are strongly correlated to the applied calcination temperature. TEM results investigated that the copper ferrites calcined at higher temperatures presented large particle sizes and crystallized very well. In addition, the photocatalytic activity was tested for hydrogen production in the presence of methanol, with and without Pt nanoparticles as a cocatalyst. The results indicated that the CuFe2O4 annealed at 900 °C (CuF-900) has higher hydrogen production activity than photocatalysts calcined at lower temperatures in the presence and absence of Pt, which is mainly assigned to the higher crystallinity, and narrower bandgap energy. Moreover, this study explained in more detail the role of Pt nanoparticles in enhancing the photocatalytic activity of CuF-900. This work introduces a new direction of thinking for the tetragonal phase structure as an efficient photocatalyst for hydrogen production.

KW - Copper ferrite

KW - Crystallinity

KW - Photocatalytic hydrogen production

KW - Pt-cocatalyst

KW - Tetragonal phase

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85177593393&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.fuel.2023.130429

DO - 10.1016/j.fuel.2023.130429

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85177593393

VL - 359

JO - FUEL

JF - FUEL

SN - 0016-2361

M1 - 130429

ER -