title: Laser processing of TiO2colloids for an enhanced photocatalytic water splitting activity.
abstract: We have measured the photocatalytic water splitting activity of several titania colloids, modified by nanosecond pulsed laser irradiation. Photocatalysis has been tested using UV and visible light. We have found that laser irradiation increases the hydrogen production efficiency up to a factor of three for anatase, rutile and P25. A hydrogen production rate as high as 30mmolg-1h-1has been obtained with good stability, tested by repeated runs. The chemical and morphological properties of the nanoparticles have been studied by electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy, showing that laser irradiation promotes the formation of disordered surface state and lattice distortion which could be responsible for the observed enhanced photocatalytic activity.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università di Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, Catania 95125, Italy; CNR-IMM, Ottava Strada 5, Catania 95121, Italy.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Filice
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università di Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, Catania 95125, Italy. Electronic address: gcompagnini@unict.it.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Compagnini
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università di Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, Catania 95125, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fiorenza
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università di Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, Catania 95125, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scirè
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università di Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, Catania 95125, Italy.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: D'Urso
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università di Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, Catania 95125, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Fragalà
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università di Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, Catania 95125, Italy; CAMJ - Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Matematiche e Informatiche, Scienze Fisiche e Scienze della Terra, Università di Messina, v.le F. S. d'Alcontres 31, Messina 98166, Italy.
authors.forename: Enza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fazio
authors.affiliation: CNR-IMM, Ottava Strada 5, Catania 95121, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scalese
keywords: Catalysis; Colloidal laser processing; Hydrogen production