Semiconductor photocatalyst for the photocatalytic reforming of biomass derivatives for hydrogen generation, and preparation and use thereof

A method for preparing a semiconductor photocatalyst for photocatalytically reforming biomass derivatives to generate hydrogen, wherein the semiconductor photocatalyst has a formula of Y-M˜N-Ax:

• wherein, Y is one selected from the group consisting of TiO2, SnO2 and ZnO, or is absent;
• wherein, M˜N is Group II element˜VI element, or M˜N is Group III˜V element;
• wherein, A is one or two or more elements selected from the group consisting of Co, Ni, Fe, Cu, Cr, Pd, Pt, Ru, Rh, Ir, Au and Ag;
• and 0.02%≦x≦1.0%;
• wherein, the Group II element is selected from Zn or Cd;
• the Group VI element is selected from S, Se, or Te;
• the Group III element is In, and the Group V element is selected from P or As;
• wherein, in case that the semiconductor photocatalyst has the formula of M˜N-Ax, the preparing method comprising:
• 1) introducing quantum dots consisting of Group II˜VI elements or Group III˜V elements into a reactor;
• 2) introducing into the precipitates one or two or more selected from the group consisting of a cobalt salt, a cobalt complex, a nickel salt, a nickel complex, an iron salt, an iron complex, a copper salt and a chromium salt, or a solution of a salt of Pd, Pt, Ru, Rh, Ir, Au or Ag, to obtain a mixed solution A;
• 3) introducing an aqueous solution of a biomass derivative into the mixed solution A to obtain a mixed solution B;
• 4) adjusting the pH value of the mixed solution B to 3˜10 to provide a mixed solution C, wherein the pH is adjusted by dropwise addition of 1 mol/L NaOH or 1 mol/L HCl;
• 5) degassing the solution C of step 4) with an inert gas or vacuumizing the reactor;
• and irradiating the reactor with UV light, visible light or a mixed beam of UV and visible light to prepare in situ the semiconductor photcatalyst of formula M˜N-Ax under inert gas or vacuum atmosphere;
• or
• wherein, in case that the semiconductor photocatalyst has a formula of Y-M˜N-Ax, the preparing method comprising:
• 1) introducing quantum dots consisting of Group II˜VI elements or Group III˜V elements into a reactor, then adding TiO2, SnO2 or ZnO, adjusting pH≧7, centrifuging and discarding the supernatant to keep the precipitates;
• 2) introducing into the precipitates one or two or more selected from the group consisting of a cobalt salt, a cobalt complex, a nickel salt, a nickel complex, an iron salt, an iron complex, a copper salt and a chromium salt, or a solution of a salt of Pd, Pt, Ru, Rh, Ir, Au or Ag;
• 3) introducing an aqueous solution of a biomass derivative into the precipitates;
• 4) irradiating the reactor with UV light and/or visible light to prepare the semiconductor photocatalyst of the formula of TiO2-M˜N-Ax, SnO2-M˜N-Ax, or ZnO-M˜N-Ax under inert gas or vacuum atmosphere.