MoO3 and 5% MoO3/ZnO were prepared by impregnation method using (NH4)6Mo7O24,
4H2O as precursor and ZnO as support. The prepared samples were
characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM),
infra red (FTIR) and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance (DRS)spectroscopies and photo-electrochemistry.
The XRD pattern showed that the MoO3 powder treated at 700°C is a
single-phase crystallizing in an orthorhombic structure with a direct optical
transition (2.70 eV). The hetero-junction 5% MoO3/ZnO was photo-electrochemically characterized to assess its feasibility for
H2 production under visible light. The capacitance potential (C-2 f(E)) characteristic of
MoO3 plotted in Na2SO4, (0.1 M) electrolyte
indicates n-type conduction with a flat band potential of -0.54 VSCE. The
photocatalytic activity was performed for the photoreduction of water to
hydrogen under visible light illumination. The best performance occurs at pH ~
7 with an evolved volume of 5.9 mL.
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