Abstract
The photocatalytic activity of WO
3
semiconductor powder for water splitting into H
2
and O
2
was studied. Instead of conventional broad spectrum light sources like lamps, monochromatic laser radiations in the UV region (γ = 355 nm) were used as the light source for the study of photocatalytic water splitting over WO
3
. An alternate route based upon the photo-chromic properties of WO
3
for the production of hydrogen was suggested. The effect of dissolved metal ions on H
2
and O
2
yield in the presence of various metal ions was also investigated. The effect of the hole-capture agent on H
2
and O
2
yield was also studied by using methanol as a hole-capture agent. The data on pH measurements during the course of reaction was found very useful in explaining the reaction mechanism in general, and metal ions action in particular.