Constructing g-C3N4/TiO2/Pt using natural titanium mines for efficient photocatalytic water splitting to produce hydrogen

Abstract

With the escalating energy crisis, clean and renewable hydrogen energy has emerged as a focal point of research. This study utilizes titanium concentrate as the primary raw material and employed a more convenient and efficient mechanical activation-oxidation-reduction-acid leaching process to effectively enrich TiO₂, thereby producing a highly active and stable TiO₂ photocatalyst substrate. To further enhanced its photocatalytic performance, this research developed a heterostructured mineral-derived material g-C₃N₄/TiO₂-6/Pt. Experimental results indicated that the hydrogen evolution rate of the g-C₃N₄/TiO₂-6/Pt composite material reached 6.42 mmol/g/h within 5 h, whereas that of g-C₃N₄/P25/Pt was only 5.92 mmol/g/h. This study underscores the significance of extracting TiO₂ from titanium concentrate and its subsequent applications. By effectively utilizing titanium resources, it aims to address the increasing industrial demand for TiO₂ while providing innovative solutions to combat environmental pollution and mitigate the energy crisis. These findings hold substantial theoretical and practical implications for advancing related fields.