Reassembled Nanosheets of Layered Perovskite-Like Niobate HCa2Nb3O10 as Photocatalysts for Hydrogen Production from Aqueous Solutions of Plant Biomass Processing Products

In conditions of depletion of mineral reserves, plant biomass is considered a renewable natural resource that can be photocatalytically processed to produce energy-intensive and environmentally friendly hydrogen fuel. In this regard, the present article focuses on the improvement of photocatalytic activity of the layered perovskite-structured niobate HCa₂Nb₃O₁₀ in the reactions of hydrogen production from aqueous solutions of typical plant biomass components, glucose and xylose, via its exfoliation into nanosheets followed by their reassembly and modification with a Pt cocatalyst. The reassembled compound obtained was shown to outperform in the activity the initial niobate and reference photocatalyst TiO₂ P25 Degussa up to 6.3 and 5.3 times, respectively, providing a hydrogen production rate up to 24.2 mmol h⁻¹g⁻¹ and apparent quantum efficiency up to 10% in the mid-near ultraviolet range.