Visible light photocatalytic activity of CuO/Cr2O3 co-loaded multiwalled carbon nanotubes sensitized with eosin Y for hydrogen evolution from water

A ternary composite photocatalyst system was prepared in a simple impregnation–pyrolysis process. In the photocatalyst system, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) acted as a catalyst and carrier, CuO and Cr2O3 acted as a co-catalyst and/or charge transferring site, and eosin Y acted as a sensitizer. Under visible light irradiation, activity of hydrogen evolution over the system (CuO/Cr2O3–MWNTs–eosin Y) was higher than that of CuO or Cr2O3 loaded MWNTs–eosin Y. It was demonstrated that simultaneous loading of CuO and Cr2O3 was vital to achieve the high activity.