A highly efficient and recyclable Pt/TiO2 thin film photocatalytic system for sustainable hydrogen production.

Powder samples (P) of TiO 2 and Pt/TiO 2 were prepared using conventional methods. Then, thin films (TF) incorporating these powders onto SiO 2 films were prepared via dip coating. The powder and thin film samples were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, FESEM, elemental mapping, ICP-OES, HRTEM, UV–vis DRS, and XPS. The samples were then tested in a water-splitting reaction to generate hydrogen, using a water/methanol mixture with a 1:1 volume ratio, and two purple lamps as the radiation sources. The results suggest that incorporating the powder photocatalyst into the thin film resulted in a significant improvement in photocatalytic performance. Furthermore, the thin film samples were more stable during three consecutive runs. [Display omitted] • Thin film photocatalysts were prepared by dip-coating and their performance was compared to the corresponding powder ones. • The incorporation of powder photocatalysts in thin film led to an enhancement of their photocatalytic performance. • Thin film photocatalysts showed higher stability compared to the powder analogs compared to three consecutive runs. • The close interparticle connectivity in the thin film seems to contribute to their superior photocatalytic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]