title: Stable Co-Catalyst-Free Photocatalytic H2 Evolution From Oxidized Titanium Nitride Nanopowders.
abstract: A simple strategy is used to thermally oxidize TiN nanopowder (∼20 nm) to an anatase phase of a TiO2:Ti(3+):N compound. In contrast to the rutile phase of such a compound, this photocatalyst provides activity for hydrogen evolution under AM1.5 conditions, without the use of any noble metal co-catalyst. Moreover the photocatalyst is active and stable over extended periods of time (tested for 4 months). Importantly, to achieve successful conversion to the active anatase polymorph, sufficiently small starting particles of TiN are needed. The key factor for catalysis is the stabilization of the co-catalytically active Ti(3+) species against oxidation by nitrogen present in the starting material.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science WW-4, LKO, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Martensstrasse 7, 91058 Erlangen (Germany).
authors.forename: Xuemei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Inorganic Chemistry, Egerlandstrasse 1, 91058 Erlangen (Germany).
authors.forename: Eva M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Zolnhofer
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science WW-4, LKO, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Martensstrasse 7, 91058 Erlangen (Germany).
authors.forename: Nhat Truong
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science WW-4, LKO, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Martensstrasse 7, 91058 Erlangen (Germany).
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Inorganic Chemistry, Egerlandstrasse 1, 91058 Erlangen (Germany).
authors.forename: Karsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science WW-4, LKO, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Martensstrasse 7, 91058 Erlangen (Germany). schmuki@ww.uni-erlangen.de.
authors.forename: Patrik
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schmuki
keywords: H2 evolution; anatase; nanopowders; nitrogen stabilization; titanium