Photo-depositing Ru and RuO2 on Anatase TiO2 Nanosheets as Co-catalysts for Photocatalytic O2 Evolution from Water Oxidation

TiO2 nanosheets mainly exposed (001) facet were prepared through a hydrothermal process with HF as the morphology-directing agent. Ru and RuO2 species were loaded by photo-deposition methods to prepare the photocatalysts. The structural features of the catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrum, and H2 Temperature-programmed reduction. The photocatalytic property was studied by the O2 evolution from water oxidation, which was examined with respect to the influences of Ru contents as well as the oxidation and reduction treatments, suggesting the charge separation effect of the Ru species co-catalysts on different facets of TiO2 nanosheets. In contrast to Ru/TiO2 and RuO2/TiO2 with the single deposited co-catalyst, the optimized catalyst 0.5%Ru-1.0%RuO2/TiO2 with dual co-catalysts achieved a much improved catalytic performance, in terms of the synergetic effect of dual co-catalysts and the enhanced charge separation effect.