Comparative Study on PEC Hydrogen Production Using Trititanate Nanotubes Co-modified with Hydroxyl-Containing Organics and Ag Nanoparticles

Xiaorong Cheng; Eric Amigues; Yuxuan Han; Qingran Chang; Tianyang Yuan; Huanyu Shen; Graham Dawson

doi:10.1007/s10562-025-05258-4

Comparative Study on PEC Hydrogen Production Using Trititanate Nanotubes Co-modified with Hydroxyl-Containing Organics and Ag Nanoparticles

Xiaorong Cheng^*
, Eric Amigues
, Yuxuan Han
, Qingran Chang
, Tianyang Yuan
, Huanyu Shen
, Graham Dawson^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Suzhou Vocational Institute of Industrial Technology
Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
Suzhou City University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

This work aims to enhance TiNT’s light absorption capacity and PEC hydrogen production efficiency through simultaneous modification with organic compounds and Ag nanoparticles. By comparing three organics (dopamine, ascorbic acid, benzoic acid), we found that π-π stacking between aromatic groups on TiNT and hydroxyl-bearing molecules enhances dopamine deposition, which is critical for subsequent Ag nanoparticle modification. Co-modification with dopamine and Ag nanoparticles (TiNT-Dopamine-Ag) enhances both visible light absorption and PEC activity. Compared to TiNT directly modified with Ag (TiNT-Ag), TiNT-Dopamine-Ag with equivalent Ag concentration exhibited a 3.2-fold higher hydrogen production efficiency.

Original language	English
Article number	13
Journal	Catalysis Letters
Volume	156
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10562-025-05258-4
Publication status	Published - Jan 2026

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Keywords

Ag nanoparticles
PEC
Surface functionalization
Trititanate nanotube

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10.1007/s10562-025-05258-4

Cite this

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title = "Comparative Study on PEC Hydrogen Production Using Trititanate Nanotubes Co-modified with Hydroxyl-Containing Organics and Ag Nanoparticles",

abstract = "This work aims to enhance TiNT{\textquoteright}s light absorption capacity and PEC hydrogen production efficiency through simultaneous modification with organic compounds and Ag nanoparticles. By comparing three organics (dopamine, ascorbic acid, benzoic acid), we found that π-π stacking between aromatic groups on TiNT and hydroxyl-bearing molecules enhances dopamine deposition, which is critical for subsequent Ag nanoparticle modification. Co-modification with dopamine and Ag nanoparticles (TiNT-Dopamine-Ag) enhances both visible light absorption and PEC activity. Compared to TiNT directly modified with Ag (TiNT-Ag), TiNT-Dopamine-Ag with equivalent Ag concentration exhibited a 3.2-fold higher hydrogen production efficiency.",

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author = "Xiaorong Cheng and Eric Amigues and Yuxuan Han and Qingran Chang and Tianyang Yuan and Huanyu Shen and Graham Dawson",

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AU - Cheng, Xiaorong

AU - Amigues, Eric

AU - Han, Yuxuan

AU - Chang, Qingran

AU - Yuan, Tianyang

AU - Shen, Huanyu

AU - Dawson, Graham

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2025.

PY - 2026/1

Y1 - 2026/1

N2 - This work aims to enhance TiNT’s light absorption capacity and PEC hydrogen production efficiency through simultaneous modification with organic compounds and Ag nanoparticles. By comparing three organics (dopamine, ascorbic acid, benzoic acid), we found that π-π stacking between aromatic groups on TiNT and hydroxyl-bearing molecules enhances dopamine deposition, which is critical for subsequent Ag nanoparticle modification. Co-modification with dopamine and Ag nanoparticles (TiNT-Dopamine-Ag) enhances both visible light absorption and PEC activity. Compared to TiNT directly modified with Ag (TiNT-Ag), TiNT-Dopamine-Ag with equivalent Ag concentration exhibited a 3.2-fold higher hydrogen production efficiency.

AB - This work aims to enhance TiNT’s light absorption capacity and PEC hydrogen production efficiency through simultaneous modification with organic compounds and Ag nanoparticles. By comparing three organics (dopamine, ascorbic acid, benzoic acid), we found that π-π stacking between aromatic groups on TiNT and hydroxyl-bearing molecules enhances dopamine deposition, which is critical for subsequent Ag nanoparticle modification. Co-modification with dopamine and Ag nanoparticles (TiNT-Dopamine-Ag) enhances both visible light absorption and PEC activity. Compared to TiNT directly modified with Ag (TiNT-Ag), TiNT-Dopamine-Ag with equivalent Ag concentration exhibited a 3.2-fold higher hydrogen production efficiency.

KW - Ag nanoparticles

KW - PEC

KW - Surface functionalization

KW - Trititanate nanotube

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105023567091

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DO - 10.1007/s10562-025-05258-4

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105023567091

SN - 1011-372X

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JO - Catalysis Letters

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ER -

Comparative Study on PEC Hydrogen Production Using Trititanate Nanotubes Co-modified with Hydroxyl-Containing Organics and Ag Nanoparticles

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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