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Overall Water Splitting on the Transition‐Metal Oxynitride Photocatalyst LaMg 1/3 Ta 2/3 O 2 N over a Large Portion of the Visible‐Light Spectrum
Author(s) -
Pan Chengsi,
Takata Tsuyoshi,
Domen Kazunari
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201504376
Subject(s) - photocatalysis , water splitting , materials science , semiconductor , photocatalytic water splitting , transition metal , visible spectrum , oxide , coating , nanotechnology , catalysis , optoelectronics , chemistry , metallurgy , biochemistry
One of the main targets of studies on water splitting photocatalysts is to develop semiconductor materials with narrower bandgaps capable of overall water splitting for efficient harvesting of solar energy. A series of transition‐metal oxynitrides, LaMg x Ta 1−x O 1+3 x N 2−3 x ( x ≥1/3), with a complex perovskite structure was reported as the first example of overall water splitting operable at up to 600 nm. The photocatalytic behavior of LaMg 1/3 Ta 2/3 O 2 N was investigated in detail in order to optimize photocatalyst preparation and water‐splitting activity. Various attempts exploring photocatalyst preparation steps, that is, cocatalyst selection, coating material and method, and synthesis method for the oxide precursor, revealed photocatalyst structures necessary for achieving overall water splitting. Careful examination of photocatalyst preparation procedures likely enhanced the quality of the produced photocatalyst, leading to a more homogeneous coating quality and semiconductor particles with fewer defects. Thus, the photocatalytic activity for water splitting on LaMg 1/3 Ta 2/3 O 2 N was largely enhanced.