Physicochemical properties and photocatalytic hydrogen evolution of TiO2 films prepared by sol–gel processes

Anatase TiO2 films were obtained on glass substrates using a sol–gel method using titanium isopropoxide as a precursor. The thickness of the film was about 140 nm for one coating, and the thickness is controlled by the number of coating cycles. The spectra of UV-VIS absorption indicated that the absorption edge of the TiO2 films is ca. 385 nm, corresponding to the band gap energy of 3.20 eV. We obtained TiO2 films having a high activity for the hydrogen evolution from photocatalytic water cleavage. By loading with 0.3 wt% Pt rate of hydrogen production increases. No influence of film thickness and calcination temperature on the photocatalytic property is observed.