Preparation of monolayer HSr2Nb3O10 nanosheets for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Abstract

Monolayer HSr₂Nb₃O₁₀ nanosheets with a thickness of about 1.95 nm were synthesized via a top-down approach. The structure and morphology were well characterized by XRD, SEM and TEM analyses. The sample served as an efficient photocatalyst for hydrogen evolution with the in situ growth of highly dispersed Pt clusters (about 2 nm). The photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate of the Pt/HSr₂Nb₃O₁₀ nanosheets was 530.2 μmol g_catalyst⁻¹ h⁻¹ under the optimal conditions of 1 wt% of Pt (PtCl₄ as the precursor), triethanolamine (TEOA) as the sacrificial reagent and the aqueous solution pH = 10.7, which was about 2.2 times higher than that of the layered HSr₂Nb₃O₁₀.