Photocatalytic water splitting over ZrO2 prepared by precipitation method

Abstract

ZrO2 prepared by the precipitation method of zirconium oxychloride with various hydrolyzing agents was studied for photocatalytic water splitting reaction under UV light irradiation. The crystal structure as well surface properties were varied with the hydrolyzing agent of KOH, NH4OH, and NH2CONH2. Especially, the surface area of the prepared ZrO2 calcined at the same temperature of 750degreesC for 6 h was dependent highly on the hydrolyzing agent, and thus the highest photocatalytic activity was obtained for ZrO2 with the highest surface area when KOH was used as a hydrolyzing agent. In the presence of Na2CO3, the photocatalytic activity of ZrO2 increased by 2-3 fold, which was ascribed to the physically adsorbed carbonate species on the ZrO2 surface.