Enhanced photocatalytic water splitting with surface defective SrTiO₃ nanocrystals

Abstract

Surface reconstructed SrTiO₃ nanocrystals were synthesized by a thermal treatment process in presence of NaBH₄ and SrTiO₃ nanocrystals. The surface reconstruction of SrTiO₃ nanocrystals is attributed to the introduction of surface oxygen vacancies or Ti sites (such as Ti³⁺ and Ti²⁺) during the hydrogenation treatment process. The light absorption and the charge transfer ability of SrTiO₃ nanocrystals are simultaneously enhanced due to surface oxygen vacancies or Ti sites (such as Ti³⁺ and Ti²⁺), which are beneficial to photocatalytic water splitting. Meanwhile, these defects also change the redox potential of the photocatalysts. Since there existed a synergistic effect between the three, the ratio of hydrogen to oxygen production was also regulated.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

SrTiO₃ / surface reconstruction / oxygen vacancies / photocatalytic water splitting

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