Preparation of high proportion of Z-scheme Er3+:Y3Al5O12@Nb2O5/Pt/In2O3 composite for enhanced visible-light driven photocatalytic hydrogen production

A high proportion of Z-scheme Er3+:Y3Al5O12@Nb2O5/Pt/In2O3 composite photocatalyst was successfully prepared by coating-demoulding (C-D) method for the first time. The C-D Z-scheme Er3+:Y3Al5O12@Nb2O5/Pt/In2O3 composite has a high photocatalytic hydrogen production activity. When the heat-treated temperature and time are 500 °C and 1.0 h, respectively, the obtained Z-scheme Er3+:Y3Al5O12@Nb2O5/Pt/In2O3 composite displays the highest photocatalytic activity. The presence of Pt nanoparticles enables electrons on the conduction band of Nb2O5 to quickly transfer to the valence band of In2O3 and then combine with the holes. And that, the Er3+:Y3Al5O12 can absorb visible-lights and convert them into ultraviolet-lights to activate the wide band-gap Nb2O5 semiconductor.