Construction of novel step-scheme TiO2-WO3 nanostructured heterojunction towards morphology-driven enhancement of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution driven via solar energy is an efficient and sustainable method for hydrogen synthesis. The use of titania (TiO2), an efficient photocatalyst in hydrogen generation, can be improved further by reducing the recombination rate of photoinduced charge carriers. In this c...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: M. Rebeca Sofiya Joice, Priya Ranjan Dev, E. Iyyappan, T. Manovah David, Nithya Thangavel, Bernaurdshaw Neppolian, P. Wilson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-07-01
Series:JCIS Open
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666934X25000091
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850102836557250560
author M. Rebeca Sofiya Joice
Priya Ranjan Dev
E. Iyyappan
T. Manovah David
Nithya Thangavel
Bernaurdshaw Neppolian
P. Wilson
author_facet M. Rebeca Sofiya Joice
Priya Ranjan Dev
E. Iyyappan
T. Manovah David
Nithya Thangavel
Bernaurdshaw Neppolian
P. Wilson
author_sort M. Rebeca Sofiya Joice
collection DOAJ
description Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution driven via solar energy is an efficient and sustainable method for hydrogen synthesis. The use of titania (TiO2), an efficient photocatalyst in hydrogen generation, can be improved further by reducing the recombination rate of photoinduced charge carriers. In this context, WO3 is a viable material to boost TiO2 photoefficiency. In the present study, 1D TiO2 nanotube/WO3 nanorod (TN-WR) Step-scheme (S-scheme) heterojunction was fabricated via a facile impregnation method. XRD studies confirmed the anatase phase of TiO2 and the monoclinic phase of WO3. Morphological studies revealed the 1D microstructure of the nanocomposite with a mesoporous surface. UV-DRS and PL profiles displayed a bathochromic shift in wavelength signifying the activation of the nanocomposite in the visible region. XPS studies indicated the generation of defective sites in TiO2 upon incorporation of WO3. Thus, the novel 1D TN-WR S-scheme heterojunction nanocomposite demonstrates a remarkably high photocatalytic hydrogen generation rate of 1761 μmol g−1h−1. In order to investigate the role of morphology in hydrogen evolution, TiO2/WO3 nanocomposites with spherical morphologies were considered for comparison. This study provides a novel insight into the design of semiconductor heterojunction photocatalysts for efficient hydrogen evolution while avoiding the use of noble metals.
format Article
id doaj-art-75d03aa699ec4b3c8e33df624fdaeefe
institution DOAJ
issn 2666-934X
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series JCIS Open
spelling doaj-art-75d03aa699ec4b3c8e33df624fdaeefe2025-08-20T02:39:40ZengElsevierJCIS Open2666-934X2025-07-011810013610.1016/j.jciso.2025.100136Construction of novel step-scheme TiO2-WO3 nanostructured heterojunction towards morphology-driven enhancement of photocatalytic hydrogen evolutionM. Rebeca Sofiya Joice0Priya Ranjan Dev1E. Iyyappan2T. Manovah David3Nithya Thangavel4Bernaurdshaw Neppolian5P. Wilson6Department of Chemistry, Madras Christian College (Autonomous), University of Madras, Chennai, 600 059, IndiaDepartment of Chemistry, Madras Christian College (Autonomous), University of Madras, Chennai, 600 059, IndiaDepartment of Chemistry, Madras Christian College (Autonomous), University of Madras, Chennai, 600 059, IndiaJeol India Pvt. Ltd., Unit No. 305, 3rd Floor, ABW Elegance Tower, Jasola District Centre, New Delhi, 110 025, IndiaResearch Institute and Department of Chemistry, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chennai, 603 203, IndiaResearch Institute and Department of Chemistry, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chennai, 603 203, India; Corresponding author.Department of Chemistry, Madras Christian College (Autonomous), University of Madras, Chennai, 600 059, India; Corresponding author.Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution driven via solar energy is an efficient and sustainable method for hydrogen synthesis. The use of titania (TiO2), an efficient photocatalyst in hydrogen generation, can be improved further by reducing the recombination rate of photoinduced charge carriers. In this context, WO3 is a viable material to boost TiO2 photoefficiency. In the present study, 1D TiO2 nanotube/WO3 nanorod (TN-WR) Step-scheme (S-scheme) heterojunction was fabricated via a facile impregnation method. XRD studies confirmed the anatase phase of TiO2 and the monoclinic phase of WO3. Morphological studies revealed the 1D microstructure of the nanocomposite with a mesoporous surface. UV-DRS and PL profiles displayed a bathochromic shift in wavelength signifying the activation of the nanocomposite in the visible region. XPS studies indicated the generation of defective sites in TiO2 upon incorporation of WO3. Thus, the novel 1D TN-WR S-scheme heterojunction nanocomposite demonstrates a remarkably high photocatalytic hydrogen generation rate of 1761 μmol g−1h−1. In order to investigate the role of morphology in hydrogen evolution, TiO2/WO3 nanocomposites with spherical morphologies were considered for comparison. This study provides a novel insight into the design of semiconductor heterojunction photocatalysts for efficient hydrogen evolution while avoiding the use of noble metals.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666934X25000091Hydrogen evolutionPhotocatalystS-SchemeTiO2 nanotubesWO3 nanorods
spellingShingle M. Rebeca Sofiya Joice
Priya Ranjan Dev
E. Iyyappan
T. Manovah David
Nithya Thangavel
Bernaurdshaw Neppolian
P. Wilson
Construction of novel step-scheme TiO2-WO3 nanostructured heterojunction towards morphology-driven enhancement of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution
JCIS Open
Hydrogen evolution
Photocatalyst
S-Scheme
TiO2 nanotubes
WO3 nanorods
title Construction of novel step-scheme TiO2-WO3 nanostructured heterojunction towards morphology-driven enhancement of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution
title_full Construction of novel step-scheme TiO2-WO3 nanostructured heterojunction towards morphology-driven enhancement of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution
title_fullStr Construction of novel step-scheme TiO2-WO3 nanostructured heterojunction towards morphology-driven enhancement of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution
title_full_unstemmed Construction of novel step-scheme TiO2-WO3 nanostructured heterojunction towards morphology-driven enhancement of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution
title_short Construction of novel step-scheme TiO2-WO3 nanostructured heterojunction towards morphology-driven enhancement of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution
title_sort construction of novel step scheme tio2 wo3 nanostructured heterojunction towards morphology driven enhancement of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution
topic Hydrogen evolution
Photocatalyst
S-Scheme
TiO2 nanotubes
WO3 nanorods
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666934X25000091
work_keys_str_mv AT mrebecasofiyajoice constructionofnovelstepschemetio2wo3nanostructuredheterojunctiontowardsmorphologydrivenenhancementofphotocatalytichydrogenevolution
AT priyaranjandev constructionofnovelstepschemetio2wo3nanostructuredheterojunctiontowardsmorphologydrivenenhancementofphotocatalytichydrogenevolution
AT eiyyappan constructionofnovelstepschemetio2wo3nanostructuredheterojunctiontowardsmorphologydrivenenhancementofphotocatalytichydrogenevolution
AT tmanovahdavid constructionofnovelstepschemetio2wo3nanostructuredheterojunctiontowardsmorphologydrivenenhancementofphotocatalytichydrogenevolution
AT nithyathangavel constructionofnovelstepschemetio2wo3nanostructuredheterojunctiontowardsmorphologydrivenenhancementofphotocatalytichydrogenevolution
AT bernaurdshawneppolian constructionofnovelstepschemetio2wo3nanostructuredheterojunctiontowardsmorphologydrivenenhancementofphotocatalytichydrogenevolution
AT pwilson constructionofnovelstepschemetio2wo3nanostructuredheterojunctiontowardsmorphologydrivenenhancementofphotocatalytichydrogenevolution