title: Photocatalytic activity of quantum dots incorporated in molecular sieves for generation of hydrogen.
abstract: MCM-41 molecular sieve coupled with lead sulfide quantum dots (PbS-MCM-41) was prepared by ion-exchange method. The photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-vis spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy (IR) and BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) experiments. Exciton absorption peak at higher energy than the fundamental absorption edge of bulk lead sulfide indicates quantum confinement effects in quantum dots as a consequence of their small size. The hydrogen production rate from water photocatalytic decomposition under visible light irradiation (λ>400nm) over PbS nanoparticles formed in mesoporous material was much higher compared to the bulk PbS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Rasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran. pourahmad@iaurasht.ac.ir
authors.forename: Afshin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pourahmad
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D002384:Catalysis / Q000528:radiation effects; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D007854:Lead / Q000737:chemistry; D008027:Light; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010316:Particle Size; D016062:Porosity; D045663:Quantum Dots; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013440:Sulfides / Q000737:chemistry; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: C509968:MCM-41; D013440:Sulfides; C018391:lead sulfide; D007854:Lead; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D006859:Hydrogen