Solar hydrogen production from ethanol-water vapours over metal/TiO2 photocatalysts supported on β-SiC alveolar foams

In this work, we have explored the feasibility of alveolar open-cell β-SiC foams as catalyst support for solar hydrogen production. For that purpose, Pt and Ru nanoparticles been obtained, by means photoassisted synthesis, on TiO2-coated tested in gas-phase production from water-ethanol mixtures a tubular reactor coupled to compound parabolic collector (CPC). Subnanometre-sized metal or metal/oxide are obtained Pt/TiO2/SiC Ru/TiO2/SiC foams, respectively, where co-catalyst decorate TiO2 coating which turn is attached SiC foam through an amorphous SiO2 washcoat formed pre-calcination. photocatalytic reactions, all assayed foam-supported photocatalysts active hydrogen, with Pt/TiO2 ones being most pore size exerting little influence outcome. best conditions, 14 % UV-to-hydrogen (equivalent 0.49 solar-to-hydrogen) conversion efficiency, photonic efficiency higher than 30 %, attained.