Issue 38, 2016

Constructing bulk defective perovskite SrTiO3 nanocubes for high performance photocatalysts

Abstract

Defects (Ti3+ or oxygen vacancies) have been demonstrated to promote the charge separation process in TiO2 based photocatalysts. Particularly, the bulk defects within a certain concentration can give a great enhancement for both light absorption and charge separation efficiency. In this report, we explored a one-step molten salts route to synthesize SrTiO3 nanocubes with bulk defects (Ti3+ doped) by using SrCO3 as a Sr source, and TiO2 and Ti powder as Ti sources. The amount of defects can be tuned by changing the molar ratio of Ti/TiO2. The corresponding bandgap of SrTiO3 can be changed from 3.29 to 2.73 eV with the increase of defects. X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy disclose that SrTiO3 is highly crystalline and has a cubic morphology. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance indicate that the as-prepared SrTiO3 is close to the Ti3+ doped SrTiO3. Surface photovoltage spectroscopy (SPS) and field-induced SPS confirm that Ti3+ doping in the SrTiO3 turns it from an n-type semiconductor to p-type. The SrTiO3 with an optimal amount of defects exhibits highly enhanced photocatalytic performance. An excess amount of defects results in a weak SPS response and photocatalytic performance.

Graphical abstract: Constructing bulk defective perovskite SrTiO3 nanocubes for high performance photocatalysts

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
16 Jun 2016
Accepted
24 Aug 2016
First published
26 Aug 2016

Nanoscale, 2016,8, 16963-16968

Author version available

Constructing bulk defective perovskite SrTiO3 nanocubes for high performance photocatalysts

G. Zhang, W. Jiang, S. Hua, H. Zhao, L. Zhang and Z. Sun, Nanoscale, 2016, 8, 16963 DOI: 10.1039/C6NR04859E

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