Enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production from water-ethanol solution by Ruthenium doped La-NaTaO₃

The photocatalytic hydrogen production from ethanol aqueous solution, with the use ruthenium doped La-NaTaO₃ has been investigated. Ruthenium doped La-NaTaO₃ catalysts are prepared by impregnation method. The catalysts are by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The Ru co-catalyst demonstrated from the TEM image shows a good dispersion on the surface of La-C-NaTaO₃ with an average particle size between 4-5 nm. The photocatalytic reaction is carried out in a closed reactor with a gas circulation system. The catalytic activity of La-NaTaO₃ improved markedly (6.6 times from pure water) when Ru is loaded onto its surface. The hydrogen production is notably enhanced in the presence of ethanol as electron donors. This result is much higher when compared with the rate of hydrogen production in the sample without co- catalysts about 9.4 times higher after Ru deposition from ethanol aqueous solution. Increasing the production of hydrogen on the Ru/La-NaTaO₃ closely related to the decrease in recombination between electron-hole pairs.