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.