Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production over CdS Nanomaterials: An Interdisciplinary Experiment for Introducing Undergraduate Students to Photocatalysis and Analytical Chemistry

• Xin Li ^[1] ; Yanping Deng ^[1] ; Zhimin Jiang ^[1] ; Rongchen Shen ^[1] ; Jun Xie ^[1] ; Wei Liu ^[1] ; Xiaobo Chen ^[2]
  1. [1] South China Agricultural University

     South China Agricultural University

     China

     
  2. [2] University of Missouri–Kansas City

     University of Missouri–Kansas City

     Township of Kaw, Estados Unidos

     
• Localización: Journal of chemical education, ISSN 0021-9584, Vol. 96, Nº 6, 2019, págs. 1224-1229
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • Photocatalytic hydrogen generation over semiconductor photocatalysts has attracted considerable attention over the past few decades. This experiment is designed for sophomore- and higher-level undergraduates who are in the majors of materials chemistry, analytical chemistry, catalysis, or chemical engineering. In this experiment, CdS nanoparticles and nanosheets were first fabricated with a one-step direct-precipitation reaction and a two-step precipitation–ion-exchange reaction, respectively, and then used as photocatalysts for visible-light hydrogen evolution from water, in the presence of noble-metal Pt nanoparticles as in situ cocatalysts and sodium sulfide and sulfite (Na2S/Na2SO3) as sacrificial reagents. A gas chromatograph with a thermal-conductivity detector (GC-TCD) was used to quantitatively monitor the produced hydrogen gas. This interdisciplinary experiment is expected to give students an introduction to nanomaterial synthesis, the general process of photocatalytic hydrogen generation, and the principles and use of instruments. Upon the completion of the experiment, students understand how chemistry can be utilized for renewable-energy applications.