PANI/NaTaO₃ composite photocatalyst for enhanced hydrogen generation under UV light irradiation

A PANI/NaTaO₃ composite was successfully synthesized by an oxidative polymerization of aniline monomer in hydrochloric acid solution containing sodium tantalate. NaTaO₃ at a monoclinic structure was produced via hydrothermal method. The photocatalytic activities of the unmodified NaTaO₃ and PANI/NaTaO₃ were evaluated for hydrogen generation from an aqueous HCOOH solution and under UV light irradiation. The results showed that the evolution rate of H₂ increased significantly when NaTaO₃ was modified with PANI. The enhancement of the photocatalytic activity of PANI/NaTaO₃ composite was ascribed to the effective charge transfer and separation between NaTaO₃ and PANI, which reduced their recombination. This indicates that PANI modification of tantalate photocatalysts may open up a new way to prepare highly efficient catalytic materials for H₂ generation.