Facile template-free fabrication of different micro/nanostructured In2O3 for photocatalytic H2 production from glucose solution

Indium oxide (In 2 O 3 ) is a promising semiconductor used for various photocatalytic reactions, yet the green and template-free synthesizing the different micro/nanostructured In 2 O 3 with tunable morphology is still full of challenge. In this study, the three morphological In 2 O 3 with 3D micro-cubelike (In 2 O 3 -MC), 3D micro-ricelike (In 2 O 3 -MR), and 2D nano-platelike (In 2 O 3 -NP) were successfully fabricated through a facile hydrothermal strategy without any organic template additives. Owing to the enlarged specific surface area , promoted charge migration rate and suitable surface oxygen vacancies density, the unique 3D ricelike In 2 O 3 -MR exhibited the best photocatalytic H 2 generation activity from biomass glucose solution, which was 1.9-fold and 1.7-fold higher than that of In 2 O 3 -MC and In 2 O 3 -NP under the same experimental conditions. In addition, the optimum photoactivity of In 2 O 3 -MR was achieved under the alkaline environment with pH = 11 and 1.0 wt% Pt cocatalyst loading, which was better than the most of previously reported In 2 O 3 -based photocatalysts . Simultaneously, the possible photocatalytic mechanism for solar H 2 evolution from glucose solution was also discussed. Our work will bring about potential application in preparation of other photocatalysts with controlling morphology for renewable photocatalysis .