Reassembled Nanosheets of Layered Perovskite-Like Niobate HCa2Nb3O10 as Photocatalysts for Hydrogen Production from Aqueous Solutions of Plant Biomass Processing Products

In conditions of depletion of mineral reserves, plant biomass is considered a renewable natural resource that can be photocatalytically processed to produce energy-intensive and environmentally friendly hydrogen fuel. In this regard, the present article focuses on the improvement of photocatalytic activity of the layered perovskite-structured niobate HCa2Nb3O10 in the reactions of hydrogen production from aqueous solutions of typical plant biomass components, glucose and xylose, via its exfoliation into nanosheets followed by their reassembly and modification with a Pt cocatalyst. The reassembled compound obtained was shown to outperform in the activity the initial niobate and reference photocatalyst TiO2 P25 Degussa up to 6.3 and 5.3 times, respectively, providing a hydrogen production rate up to 24.2 mmol h−1g−1 and apparent quantum efficiency up to 10% in the mid-near ultraviolet range.