CTAB (Cetyltrimethyl Ammonium Bromide) modified Bi2SiO5 / carbon foam composite photoelectrocatalytic material as well as preparation method and application thereof
By preparing Bi2SiO5/carbon foam composite photoelectrocatalyst material modified with CTAB, the problems of insufficient stability and light absorption rate of two-dimensional photoelectrocatalysts were solved, and high efficiency of photoelectrocatalytic water splitting was achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202510999512.1
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-07-21
- Publication Date
- 2025-11-11
AI Technical Summary
Existing technologies make it difficult to prepare two-dimensional photocatalysts Bi2O2SiO3 on a large scale, at low cost, and with high quality. Furthermore, their light absorption rate and electrical conductivity are insufficient, which affects the efficiency of photocatalytic water splitting.
A method for preparing CTAB-modified Bi2SiO5/carbon foam composite photocatalytic material was adopted. CTAB-modified Bi2SiO5 powder was uniformly loaded onto the surface of carbon foam through hydrothermal method and hydrothermal electrodeposition technology to form a two-dimensional photocatalytic layer. The electrostatic adsorption and hydrophobic long chains of CTAB were used to enhance the stability of the material and broaden the photoresponse range.
This improved the material's stability and light absorption rate, increased the photoreaction contact area, shortened the transfer distance of photogenerated charge carriers, and improved the efficiency of photoelectrocatalytic water splitting.
Smart Images
Figure CN120920076A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention belongs to the field of functional materials technology, and relates to photoelectrocatalytic materials, specifically to a CTAB-modified Bi2SiO5 / carbon foam composite photoelectrocatalytic material, its preparation method, and its application. Background Technology
[0002] Photoelectrocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen evolution has been widely recognized as a promising strategy for addressing the energy crisis and related environmental pollution. In a typical photoelectrocatalytic hydrogen production process, electrons in the valence band are photoexcited to the conduction band of the semiconductor photocatalyst by absorbing sunlight; photoelectrons and holes migrate to the surface and participate in the hydrogen production reaction. Appropriate band gap and redox potential are key factors affecting light absorption and hydrogen evolution.
[0003] Bismuth oxide silicate (Bi₂O₂SiO₃), a newly discovered typical layered bismuth-based material, has been reported for the first time in the synthesis of Bi₄(SiO₄)₃ ceramics. Bi₂O₂SiO₃ belongs to the Aurivillius family and possesses the [Bi₂O₂] property. n 2 n+ Layers and [SiO3] n 2 n- It has an orthorhombic crystal structure with interlaced plates. However, due to phase transitions and the easy hydrolysis of silicates, the synthesis of single-phase Bi₂O₂SiO₃ is extremely difficult.
[0004] The performance of photoelectrocatalysts is influenced not only by their inherent properties (such as band gap, size, and dispersion) but also by their surface states (including charge, absorption properties, and defects). Two-dimensional (2D) photoelectrocatalysts with a thickness of a few nanometers or less are considered promising candidates for efficiently converting solar energy into chemical energy in the form of hydrogen. Electrons can move freely in a two-dimensional plane, but their restricted movement in the vertical direction is controlled by quantum confinement effects. Currently, the large-scale, low-cost, and high-quality preparation of two-dimensional materials faces challenges. Summary of the Invention
[0005] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, the present invention aims to provide a CTAB-modified Bi2SiO5 / carbon foam composite photoelectrocatalytic material, its preparation method, and its application, which exhibits good stability and light absorption rate, excellent electrical conductivity, and photoelectrocatalytic water splitting efficiency.
[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention employs the following technical solution:
[0007] A method for preparing a CTAB-modified Bi₂SiO₅ / carbon foam composite photoelectrocatalytic material includes the following steps:
[0008] Step 1: Take the raw materials according to the mass ratio of Bi(NO3)3·5H2O, polydimethylsiloxane, glycerol and deionized water as (1~10):(1~10):(1~15):(1~15). Add Bi(NO3)3·5H2O to glycerol and stir until dissolved to obtain solution A. Add polydimethylsiloxane to deionized water and stir until dissolved to obtain solution B.
[0009] Step 2: Add solution B dropwise to solution A and stir until homogeneous to obtain a mixed solution. Add CTAB to the mixed solution according to the mass-volume ratio of CTAB to the mixed solution of (0.5-5) g / 100mL. Adjust the pH value to 7-14 using sodium hydroxide solution to obtain solution C.
[0010] Step 3: Take solution C and fill it into the lining of the reactor. Place it in a water-heated oven and keep it at 100-220℃ for 6-48 hours. After the reaction is completed, take out the reactor and cool it. After centrifugation, washing and drying, the powder is obtained, namely CTAB modified Bi2SiO5 powder.
[0011] Step 4: Place 0.1-1g of CTAB-modified Bi2SiO5 powder in a beaker, then add 10-100mL of isopropanol and 10-100mL of terpineol, stir until evenly dispersed, then add 0.1-3.5g of iodine and continue stirring for 12-36h to obtain the precursor solution.
[0012] Step 5: After ultrasonic cleaning, take the carbon foam substrate and place it in an oven for low-temperature heat treatment at 100-200℃ for 5-12 hours. After treatment, cut it into small pieces of 1*1cm.
[0013] Step 6: Place the cut and cleaned carbon foam substrate on the negative electrode of the hydrothermal electrophoretic deposition apparatus, place the precursor solution prepared in Step 4 into the deposition liner, set the deposition voltage to 15-30V, connect the equipment and deposit for 1-20 minutes, then turn off the equipment, remove the carbon foam substrate, and vacuum dry it to obtain the desired CTAB modified Bi2SiO5 / carbon foam photoelectrophotocatalyst.
[0014] The present invention also has the following technical features:
[0015] Preferably, the stirring described in steps one, two and four is performed by stirring with a magnetic stirrer for 10 to 60 minutes.
[0016] Preferably, the dripping rate in step two is 1 to 5 drops per second.
[0017] Preferably, the concentration of the sodium hydroxide solution used to adjust the pH value in step two is 0.1–5 M.
[0018] Preferably, the washing in step three involves washing with deionized water and anhydrous ethanol 3 to 5 times in sequence.
[0019] Preferably, the drying process in step three involves drying at 50–60°C for 12–24 hours.
[0020] Preferably, the ultrasonic cleaning method for the carbon foam substrate in step five involves ultrasonic treatment for 3-5 minutes in a solution of equal volumes of acetone and nitric acid, wherein the concentration of the nitric acid solution is 0.1-10M.
[0021] This invention also protects a CTAB-modified Bi2SiO5 / carbon foam composite photoelectrocatalytic material prepared by the above method and its application as a photoanode in photoelectrocatalytic reactions in alkaline environments.
[0022] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following technical effects:
[0023] This invention first employs a hydrothermal method to prepare CTAB-modified Bi₂SiO₅. CTAB dissociates in solution to release positively charged hexadecyltrimethylammonium ions, while Bi₂SiO₅ powder typically carries a certain surface charge. When the two are mixed, the positively charged CTAB ions are adsorbed onto the Bi₂SiO₅ powder surface through electrostatic attraction. The CTAB molecules adsorbed on the Bi₂SiO₅ powder surface form a molecular film. This film provides steric hindrance, preventing the aggregation of Bi₂SiO₅ powder particles. This method allows for precise control... The particle size and morphology of the modified powder are analyzed. On the one hand, the improved dispersibility of the modified powder effectively expands the photoreaction contact area, exposes more photocatalytic reaction active sites, and shortens the transfer distance of photogenerated charge carriers, enabling them to quickly reach the interface for hydrogen evolution reaction. This increases the contact area between the photocatalyst and the reactants, potentially improving photocatalytic efficiency. On the other hand, the presence of CTAB alters the band structure of Bi2SiO5, accelerates the separation and transport of photogenerated charge carriers, broadens the photoresponse range, and improves visible light utilization, thereby affecting photocatalytic activity.
[0024] Furthermore, this invention employs hydrothermal electrodeposition technology to load CTAB-modified Bi₂SiO₅ onto the surface of carbon foam, using the carbon foam material as a carrier to form a two-dimensional photoelectrocatalytic layer. The carbon foam material provides excellent conductivity and mechanical stability. CTAB reduces the agglomeration of Bi₂SiO₅ particles, ensuring they are uniformly loaded within the porous structure of the carbon foam. CTAB (hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide) electrostatically adsorbs onto the Bi₂SiO₅ surface through its cationic properties, while its hydrophobic long chains enhance the interfacial bonding with the carbon foam, further improving the material's stability. Simultaneously, it forms a larger photoreaction contact area, exposing more photocatalytic reaction active sites and shortening the transfer distance of photogenerated charge carriers, enabling them to quickly reach the interface for hydrogen evolution reaction. Ultimately, a composite material with good stability, high light absorption, and excellent electrical conductivity is prepared, exhibiting superior photoelectrocatalytic water splitting efficiency. Attached Figure Description
[0025] Figure 1 X-ray diffraction pattern of CTAB-modified Bi2SiO5 prepared in Example 2;
[0026] Figure 2 The scan image is of CTAB-modified Bi2SiO5 prepared in Example 2;
[0027] Figure 3 Atomic force microscopy image of CTAB-modified Bi2SiO5 prepared in Example 2;
[0028] Figure 4 The UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectrum of CTAB-modified Bi2SiO5 prepared in Example 2;
[0029] Figure 5 The oxygen evolution performance of the CTAB-modified Bi2SiO5 / carbon foam prepared in Example 2 in a solution with a pH of 9.5 is shown in the figure. Detailed Implementation
[0030] The specific content of the present invention will be further explained in detail below with reference to the embodiments.
[0031] Example 1
[0032] This embodiment provides a method for preparing a CTAB-modified Bi2SiO5 / carbon foam composite photoelectrocatalytic material, including the following steps:
[0033] Step 1: Take the raw materials according to the mass ratio of Bi(NO3)3·5H2O, polydimethylsiloxane, glycerol and deionized water of 1:1:1:1. Add Bi(NO3)3·5H2O to glycerol and stir with a magnetic stirrer for 10 minutes until dissolved to obtain solution A. Add polydimethylsiloxane to deionized water and stir with a magnetic stirrer for 10 minutes until dissolved to obtain solution B.
[0034] Step 2: Add solution B dropwise to solution A at a rate of 1 drop / second, and stir with a magnetic stirrer for 10 minutes until a homogeneous mixed solution is obtained. Add CTAB to the mixed solution according to a mass-to-volume ratio of CTAB to the mixed solution of 0.5 g / 100 mL, and adjust the pH value to 7 with sodium hydroxide solution to obtain solution C.
[0035] Step 3: Take solution C and fill it into the lining of the reactor. Place it in a water-heated oven and keep it at 100℃ for 6 hours. After the reaction is completed, take out the reactor and cool it. Collect the solid by centrifugation, wash it three times with deionized water and anhydrous ethanol, and dry it at 50℃ for 24 hours to obtain the powder, namely CTAB modified Bi2SiO5 powder.
[0036] Step 4: Place 0.1g of CTAB-modified Bi2SiO5 powder in a beaker, then add 10mL of isopropanol and 10mL of terpineol, stir with a magnetic stirrer for 10min until evenly dispersed, then add 0.1g of iodine and continue stirring for 12h to obtain the precursor solution.
[0037] Step 5: Place the carbon foam substrate in a solution of equal volume of acetone and nitric acid solution and sonicate for 3 minutes. The concentration of the nitric acid solution is 0.1M. Then place it in an oven and heat treat it at 100℃ for 12 hours. After treatment, cut it into small pieces of 1*1cm.
[0038] Step 6: Place the cut and cleaned carbon foam substrate on the negative electrode of the hydrothermal electrophoretic deposition apparatus, place the precursor solution prepared in step 4 into the deposition liner, set the deposition voltage to 15V, connect the equipment and deposit for 20 minutes, then turn off the equipment, remove the carbon foam substrate, and vacuum dry it to obtain the desired CTAB modified Bi2SiO5 / carbon foam photoelectrophotocatalyst.
[0039] Example 2
[0040] This embodiment provides a method for preparing a CTAB-modified Bi2SiO5 / carbon foam composite photoelectrocatalytic material, including the following steps:
[0041] Step 1: Take the raw materials according to the mass ratio of Bi(NO3)3·5H2O, polydimethylsiloxane, glycerol and deionized water of 5:5:10:10. Add Bi(NO3)3·5H2O to glycerol and stir with a magnetic stirrer for 15 minutes until dissolved to obtain solution A. Add polydimethylsiloxane to deionized water and stir with a magnetic stirrer for 15 minutes until dissolved to obtain solution B.
[0042] Step 2: Add solution B dropwise to solution A at a rate of 3 drops / second, and stir with a magnetic stirrer for 15 minutes until a homogeneous mixed solution is obtained. Add CTAB to the mixed solution according to a mass-to-volume ratio of CTAB to the mixed solution of 1.5g / 100mL, and adjust the pH value to 12 with sodium hydroxide solution to obtain solution C.
[0043] Step 3: Take solution C and fill it into the lining of the reactor. Place it in a water-heated oven and keep it at 180℃ for 12 hours. After the reaction is completed, take out the reactor and cool it. Collect the solid by centrifugation, wash it with deionized water and anhydrous ethanol five times in sequence, and dry it at 60℃ for 12 hours to obtain the powder, namely CTAB modified Bi2SiO5 powder.
[0044] Step 4: Take 0.5g of CTAB-modified Bi2SiO5 powder and place it in a beaker. Then add 50mL of isopropanol and 50mL of terpineol. Stir with a magnetic stirrer for 15min until it is evenly dispersed. Then add 1g of iodine and continue stirring for 24h to obtain the precursor solution.
[0045] Step 5: Place the carbon foam substrate in a solution of equal volume of acetone and nitric acid solution and sonicate for 5 minutes. The concentration of the nitric acid solution is 1M. Then place it in an oven and heat treat it at a low temperature of 150℃ for 10 hours. After treatment, cut it into small pieces of 1*1cm.
[0046] Step 6: Place the cut and cleaned carbon foam substrate on the negative electrode of the hydrothermal electrophoretic deposition apparatus, place the precursor solution prepared in step 4 into the deposition liner, set the deposition voltage to 20V, connect the equipment and deposit for 10 minutes, then turn off the equipment, remove the carbon foam substrate, and vacuum dry it to obtain the desired CTAB modified Bi2SiO5 / carbon foam photoelectrophotocatalyst.
[0047] Figure 1 The image shows the X-ray diffraction pattern of CTAB-modified Bi2SiO5 prepared in Example 2, where the horizontal axis represents the 2θ angle and the vertical axis represents the diffraction peak intensity. The pattern accurately corresponds to Bi2SiO5 PDF#75-1483, indicating that the successful addition of CTAB has no effect on the phase composition of Bi2SiO5.
[0048] Figure 2 The scan image of CTAB-modified Bi2SiO5 prepared in Example 2 is shown below. Figure 2 It can be seen that it is a sheet-like accumulation.
[0049] Figure 3 Atomic force microscopy images of CTAB-modified Bi₂SiO₅ prepared in Example 2, from... Figure 3 It can be seen that the thickness of its two-dimensional nanosheets is 2.2 nm.
[0050] Figure 4 The UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectrum of CTAB-modified Bi₂SiO₅ prepared in Example 2 is shown below. Figure 4 It can be seen that its light absorption range is redshifted, which means that it can absorb more solar energy and improve photoelectric conversion efficiency.
[0051] The photoelectrocatalytic effect of the prepared CTAB-modified Bi₂SiO₅ / carbon foam sample was tested using a Chi660E instrument. The specific testing procedure included cutting the composite photoelectrocatalyst into 1*1 cm pieces, placing them in a sodium borate buffer solution at pH 9.5, and then performing a photoelectrochemical oxygen evolution test.
[0052] Figure 5 The graph shows the oxygen evolution performance of the CTAB-modified Bi₂SiO₅ / carbon foam prepared in Example 2 in a solution at pH 9.5. Figure 5 As can be clearly seen, the photoelectrocatalyst prepared by this invention has good visible light oxygen production performance.
[0053] Example 3
[0054] This embodiment provides a method for preparing a CTAB-modified Bi2SiO5 / carbon foam composite photoelectrocatalytic material, including the following steps:
[0055] Step 1: Take the raw materials according to the mass ratio of Bi(NO3)3·5H2O, polydimethylsiloxane, glycerol and deionized water of 10:10:15:15. Add Bi(NO3)3·5H2O to glycerol and stir with a magnetic stirrer for 60 minutes until dissolved to obtain solution A. Add polydimethylsiloxane to deionized water and stir with a magnetic stirrer for 60 minutes until dissolved to obtain solution B.
[0056] Step 2: Add solution B dropwise to solution A at a rate of 5 drops / second, and stir with a magnetic stirrer for 60 minutes until a homogeneous mixed solution is obtained. Add CTAB to the mixed solution according to a mass-to-volume ratio of CTAB to the mixed solution of 5g / 100mL, and adjust the pH value to 14 with sodium hydroxide solution to obtain solution C.
[0057] Step 3: Take solution C and fill it into the lining of the reactor. Place it in a water-heated oven and keep it at 220℃ for 24 hours. After the reaction is completed, take out the reactor and cool it. Collect the solid by centrifugation, wash it with deionized water and anhydrous ethanol four times in sequence, and dry it at 55℃ for 18 hours to obtain the powder, namely CTAB modified Bi2SiO5 powder.
[0058] Step 4: Take 1g of CTAB-modified Bi2SiO5 powder and place it in a beaker. Then add 100mL of isopropanol and 100mL of terpineol. Stir with a magnetic stirrer for 60min until it is evenly dispersed. Then add 3.5g of iodine and continue stirring for 36h to obtain the precursor solution.
[0059] Step 5: Place the carbon foam substrate in a solution of equal volume of acetone and nitric acid solution and sonicate for 4 minutes. The concentration of the nitric acid solution is 0.5M. Then place it in an oven and heat treat it at a low temperature of 200℃ for 5 hours. After treatment, cut it into small pieces of 1*1cm.
[0060] Step 6: Place the cut and cleaned carbon foam substrate on the negative electrode of the hydrothermal electrophoretic deposition apparatus, place the precursor solution prepared in step 4 into the deposition liner, set the deposition voltage to 30V, connect the equipment and deposit for 1 minute, then turn off the equipment, remove the carbon foam substrate, and vacuum dry it to obtain the desired CTAB modified Bi2SiO5 / carbon foam photoelectrophotocatalyst.
[0061] Example 4
[0062] This embodiment provides a method for preparing a CTAB-modified Bi2SiO5 / carbon foam composite photoelectrocatalytic material, including the following steps:
[0063] Step 1: Take the raw materials according to the mass ratio of Bi(NO3)3·5H2O, polydimethylsiloxane, glycerol and deionized water of 5:5:15:15. Add Bi(NO3)3·5H2O to glycerol and stir with a magnetic stirrer for 20 minutes until dissolved to obtain solution A. Add polydimethylsiloxane to deionized water and stir with a magnetic stirrer for 20 minutes until dissolved to obtain solution B.
[0064] Step 2: Add solution B dropwise to solution A at a rate of 3 drops / second, and stir with a magnetic stirrer for 20 minutes until a homogeneous mixed solution is obtained. Add CTAB to the mixed solution according to a mass-to-volume ratio of CTAB to the mixed solution of 3g / 100mL, and adjust the pH value to 8 with sodium hydroxide solution to obtain solution C.
[0065] Step 3: Take solution C and fill it into the lining of the reactor. Place it in a water-heated oven and keep it at 150°C for 15 hours. After the reaction is completed, take out the reactor and cool it. Collect the solid by centrifugation, wash it with deionized water and anhydrous ethanol five times in sequence, and dry it at 60°C for 12 hours to obtain the powder, namely CTAB modified Bi2SiO5 powder.
[0066] Step 4: Take 1g of CTAB-modified Bi2SiO5 powder and place it in a beaker. Then add 100mL of isopropanol and 100mL of terpineol. Stir with a magnetic stirrer for 30min until it is evenly dispersed. Then add 2.5g of iodine and continue stirring for 15h to obtain the precursor solution.
[0067] Step 5: Place the carbon foam substrate in a solution of equal volume of acetone and nitric acid solution and sonicate for 4 minutes. The concentration of the nitric acid solution is 5M. Then place it in an oven and heat treat it at a low temperature of 150℃ for 8 hours. After treatment, cut it into small pieces of 1*1cm.
[0068] Step 6: Place the cut and cleaned carbon foam substrate on the negative electrode of the hydrothermal electrophoretic deposition apparatus, place the precursor solution prepared in Step 4 into the deposition liner, set the deposition voltage to 25V, connect the equipment and deposit for 10 minutes, then turn off the equipment, remove the carbon foam substrate, and vacuum dry it to obtain the desired CTAB modified Bi2SiO5 / carbon foam photoelectrophotocatalyst.
Claims
1. A method for preparing a CTAB-modified Bi₂SiO₅ / carbon foam composite photoelectrocatalytic material, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Step 1: Take the raw materials according to the mass ratio of Bi(NO3)3·5H2O, polydimethylsiloxane, glycerol and deionized water as (1~10):(1~10):(1~15):(1~15). Add Bi(NO3)3·5H2O to glycerol and stir until dissolved to obtain solution A. Add polydimethylsiloxane to deionized water and stir until dissolved to obtain solution B. Step 2: Add solution B dropwise to solution A and stir until homogeneous to obtain a mixed solution. Add CTAB to the mixed solution according to the mass-volume ratio of CTAB to the mixed solution of (0.5-5) g / 100mL. Adjust the pH value to 7-14 using sodium hydroxide solution to obtain solution C. Step 3: Take solution C and fill it into the lining of the reactor. Place it in a water-heated oven and keep it at 100-220℃ for 6-48 hours. After the reaction is completed, take out the reactor and cool it. After centrifugation, washing and drying, the powder is obtained, namely CTAB modified Bi2SiO5 powder. Step 4: Place 0.1-1g of CTAB-modified Bi2SiO5 powder in a beaker, then add 10-100mL of isopropanol and 10-100mL of terpineol, stir until evenly dispersed, then add 0.1-3.5g of iodine and continue stirring for 12-36h to obtain the precursor solution. Step 5: After ultrasonic cleaning, take the carbon foam substrate and place it in an oven for low-temperature heat treatment at 100-200℃ for 5-12 hours. After treatment, cut it into small pieces of 1*1cm. Step 6: Place the cut and cleaned carbon foam substrate on the negative electrode of the hydrothermal electrophoretic deposition apparatus, place the precursor solution prepared in Step 4 into the deposition liner, set the deposition voltage to 15-30V, connect the equipment and deposit for 1-20 minutes, then turn off the equipment, remove the carbon foam substrate, and vacuum dry it to obtain the desired CTAB modified Bi2SiO5 / carbon foam photoelectrophotocatalyst.
2. The preparation method of the CTAB-modified Bi₂SiO₅ / carbon foam composite photocatalytic material as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The stirring described in steps one, two and four involves stirring with a magnetic stirrer for 10 to 60 minutes.
3. The preparation method of the CTAB-modified Bi₂SiO₅ / carbon foam composite photocatalytic material as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The dripping rate described in step two is 1 to 5 drops per second.
4. The preparation method of the CTAB-modified Bi₂SiO₅ / carbon foam composite photocatalytic material as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The concentration of the sodium hydroxide solution used to adjust the pH value in step two is 0.1–5 M.
5. The preparation method of the CTAB-modified Bi₂SiO₅ / carbon foam composite photocatalytic material as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The washing process described in step three involves washing with deionized water and anhydrous ethanol 3 to 5 times in sequence.
6. The preparation method of the CTAB-modified Bi₂SiO₅ / carbon foam composite photocatalytic material as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The drying process described in step three involves drying at 50–60°C for 12–24 hours.
7. The preparation method of the CTAB-modified Bi₂SiO₅ / carbon foam composite photocatalytic material as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The ultrasonic cleaning method for the carbon foam substrate described in step five involves ultrasonic treatment for 3–5 minutes in a solution of equal volumes of acetone and nitric acid, wherein the concentration of the nitric acid solution is 0.1–10 M.
8. A CTAB-modified Bi2SiO5 / carbon foam composite photoelectrocatalytic material prepared by the method described in any one of claims 1 to 7.
9. The application of a CTAB-modified Bi2SiO5 / carbon foam composite photoelectrocatalytic material as described in claim 8 as a photoanode in an alkaline environment photoelectrocatalytic reaction process.