NOVEL PHOTOCHEMICAL ZNS CATALYST, PREPARATION THEREOF, AND HYDROGEN PRODUCTION METHODS INVOLVING THIS CATALYST Russian patent published in 2000 - IPC

FIELD: photochemical processes; hydrogen production. SUBSTANCE: zinc- and M-containing compounds are dissolved in water and mixed sulfide Zn[M]S is precipitated by hydrogen or sodium sulfide. Product is washed, dried, sintered, etched with acid, rewashed, and dried once more. Then follow impregnation with platinum under UV irradiation, washing, and final sintering to give photochemical catalyst with formula Pt(a)/Zn[M9b)]S, wherein a=0.1-3.5 wt.%, b=0.05-30 mol %, and M is Co, Fe, Ni, or P. Hydrogen is generated when aqueous suspension of catalyst is subjected to UV radiation in presence of Na₂S and NaH₂PO₂. Catalyst may also manifest activity in visible region of spectrum and functions efficiently in quasi-steady mode in absence of any oxygen-containing organic compound as promoter for low-temperature hydrogen formation. EFFECT: increased catalytic activity. 8 cl, 1 tbl, 20 ex