Abstract
Photocatalytic activities for H2 evolution of rare earth zirconium oxides, RE2Zr2O7, (RE = La, Nd, Sm, Ce) were investigated. These compounds were prepared by sol-gel method using RE(NO3)3 and ZrO(NO3)2 as starting materials. Photocatalytic reactions were carried out in a closed gas cell system with a quartz window at room temperature. Photoelectrochemical properties, band gap energy (Eg) and flat band potential (Ufb), of RE2Zr2O7 thin film electrode were measured. Under 500 W Xe lamp light irradiation, hydrogen gas was evolved in distilled water suspended La2Zr2O7, Sm2Zr2O7, and Nd2Zr2O7 without co-catalyst.
