Simultaneous copper ion removal and hydrogen production from water over a TiO2 nanotube photocatalyst.

A one-dimensional (1-D) mesoporous TiO2 nanotube (TINT) was successfully synthesized via a hydrothermal-calcination process, and employed in simultaneous photocatalytic Cu2+ removal and H2 production. Under irradiation, CU2+ in the wide concentration range of 8-800 ppm, could be reduced rapidly, and the reduction was not severely impacted by co-existing inorganic ions in solution. Simultaneous with Cu2+ reduction, noticeable H2 was produced over the in-situ fabricated Cu incorporated TiNT (Cu-TINT) photocatalyst, while H2 evolution rate was controlled by the Cu2+ reduction process, due to competition of electron capture between protons and Cu2+. In addition, H2 generation activity of Cu-TINT depended on the initial Cu2+Tri ratio, and could be depressed by coexisting ions in solution. Fast Cu2+ reduction and remarkable H2 evolution confirmed the feasibility of simultaneous Cu2+ removal and H2 production over a TiNT photocatalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]