CuO—TiO2 nanocomposite photocatalyst for hydrogen production, process for the preparation thereof

• US 9,776,162 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2014
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
• Original Assignee: Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
• Inventors: Kumari, Valluri Durga, Subrahmanyam, Machiraju, Srinivas, Basavaraju, Sadanandam, Gullapelli, Shankar, Muthukonda Venkatakrish Nan, Sundar, Bethanabhatla Syama, Kumari, Murikinati Mamatha, Kumar, Dharani Praveen
• Primary Examiner(s): Hendricks, Keith
• Assistant Examiner(s): Raphael, Colleen M
• Application Number:
  US14/459,563
• Publication Number:
  US 20160045908A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 20415744, 2041575, 502345, 502 5
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/123 Ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 21/063 Titanium; Oxides or hydroxides thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 23/72 Copper
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 35/23 in a colloidal state
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 35/30 characterised by their physical properties
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 35/39 Photocatalytic properties
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 35/393 Metal or metal oxide crystallite size
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 37/0207 Pretreatment of the support
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 37/031 Precipitation
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 40/00 Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/042 Decomposition of water
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/762 Nanowire or quantum wire, i.e. axially elongated structure having two dimensions of 100 nm or less
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/811 Of specified metal oxide composition, e.g. conducting or semiconducting compositions such as ITO, ZnOx
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/896 Chemical synthesis, e.g. chemical bonding or breaking

Abstract

The present investigation is development of the TiO₂ nanotubes concept of preparation of and their composite with fine dispersion of copper. The inventions also relates to identify a method for optimum amount of photocatalyst required for efficient and maximum hydrogen production reported than earlier (H₂=99,823 μmol·h⁻¹·g⁻¹ catalyst) from glycerol-water mixtures under solar light irradiation. A method is disclosed to produce CuO/TiO₂ nanotubes with high sustainability and recyclable activity for hydrogen production.

Claims

1. A process for H₂ production from glycerol-water mixture using a CuO—

TiO₂ nanocomposite photocatalyst comprising TiO₂ nanotubes in the range of 98-99.9 wt % and CuO in the range of 0.1 to 2 wt %, wherein the said process comprises stirring the CuO—

TiO₂ nanocomposite photocatalyst with a glycerol-water mixture (3 to 7 vol. %) for a period ranging between 0.5 to 2 h under dark conditions at a temperature ranging between 28-34°

C. followed by evacuation and purged with N₂ gas subsequently stirring the solution under solar light for a period ranging between 1 to 4 h to obtain H₂ gas.

2. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein H₂ production rate is in the range of 82,746 to 99,823 μ

mol·

h<sup>−

1</sup>·

g<sup>−

1</sup> catalyst.