Hydrogen Production System by Light‐Induced α‐FeOOH Coupled with Photoreduction

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Solar‐driven catalysts on semiconductors to produce hydrogen are considered as a means to solve environmental issues. In this study, H 2 production coupling with oxygen consumption by noble metal‐free α‐FeOOH was demonstrated even though the conduction band edge was lower than the reduction potential of H + to H 2 . For activation of α‐FeOOH, an electron donor, Hg‐Xe irradiation, and low pH (ca. 5) were indispensable factors. The H 2 production from H 2 O was confirmed by GC‐MS using isotope‐labeled water (D 2 O) and deuterated methanol. The α‐FeOOH synthesized by coprecipitation method showed 25 times more active than TiO 2 . The photocatalytic activity was stable for over 400 h. Our study suggests that α‐FeOOH known as rust can produce H 2 by light induction.