Mechanistic insights into photogenerated electrons store-and-discharge in hydrogenated glucose template synthesized Pt: TiO2/WO3 photocatalyst for the round-the-clock decomposition of methanol

This study demonstrates the glucose-template assisted synthesis of hydrogen-treated Pt: TiO2/WO3 composites, and their round-the-clock photoactivity towards methanol (MeOH) degradation under light illumination in dark. XRD indicated increasing rutile fraction TiO2 as a function template removal, WO3 crystallinity H2 treatment process. The presence oxygen vacancies was confirmed by XPS. Lower recombination rate higher surface area were observed optimized H2-Pt-G:TiO2/WO3 catalyst. optical enhancements due to synergistic interactions multi-system (TiO2, Pt) extended visible absorption system, photocatalytic activity, with 61 % MeOH 2 h irradiation 33 dark 6 h. origin efficiency further validated using photo-electrochemical investigations, which revealed appropriate interfacial contacts maximum charge separation transfer thanks vacancies.