'Water Splitting' by Titanium Exchanged Zeolite A.
Abstract
Visually detectable and chromatographically and mass spectrally identified hydrogen gas evolves from titanium (III) exchanged zeolite A immersed in water and illuminated with visible light. Titanium(III) exchanged zeolite X and zeolite Y do not produce this reaction. A photochemically produced, oxygenated titanium free radical (detected by electron spin resonance) not previously described is the species in the zeolite that reduces protons to molecular hydrogen. The other product of this reduction step is a nonradical, oxygenated titanium species of probable empirical formula TiO4. Heating the spent oxygenated titanium containing zeolite A under vacuum at 375 C restores over fifty percent of the free radical. Unlike previously reported systems, heating does not restore the original aquotitanium(III) species in the zeolite. Thus a means other than heating must be found to achieve a closed photochemical cycle that harnesses visible solar energy in the production of molecular hydrogen. The titanium exchanged zeolite A does, however, lend itself to a thermolysis of water previously described by Kasai and Bishop. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1978
- Accession Number
- ADA059131
Entities
People
- Edward M. Eyring
- Steven M. Kuznicki
Organizations
- University of Utah