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has been cited by the following article:

• TITLE: Enhancement of Photocatalytic Water Splitting Rate via Rayleigh Convection

  AUTHORS: Seiichi Deguchi, Ben Kariya, Norifumi Isu, Shoji Shimasaki, Haruna Banno, Saeko Miwa, Keisuke Sawada, Junki Tsuge, Shoichiro Imaizumi, Hidenori Kato, Kyota Tokutake

  KEYWORDS: Photocatalytic Water Splitting, Pt/TiO2 Powder, Rate Enhancement, Volumetric Reaction, Thermal Treatment, Rayleigh Convection, Thermo-Hydrodynamic Simulation

  JOURNAL NAME: Green and Sustainable Chemistry, Vol.4 No.2, May 16, 2014

  ABSTRACT: In order to enhance photocatalytic water splitting rates with Pt/TiO2 powder, sufficient agitation of the biphasic medium is required to switch surficial reactions to volumetric reactions. Additionally, agitation is conducive to higher diffusion rates of the generated hydrogen and co-produced oxygen, hindering their ability to re-couple to water on Pt loaded to TiO2 powder. In order to create agitation without consuming any electricity, a novel technique utilizing Rayleigh convection was applied, and its ability to enhance photocatalytic water splitting rates was evaluated. Higher Rayleigh convective flow rates resulted in higher photocatalytic water splitting rates. Utilization of Rayleigh convection approximately doubled the photocatalytic water splitting rates, despite relatively low convective flow velocities (obtained through simple thermo-hydrodynamic simulations). The rate enhancement achieved through Rayleigh convection is a result of its ability to disperse the ultrafine Pt/TiO2 particles throughout the whole medium, leading to volumetric reactions.