Effects of additions of rare earth oxides on activity of SrTiO3-based photocatalysts for overall water splitting

Abstract

Impacts of additions of rare earth oxides during the flux treatment of a commercial SrTiO3 powder on activity of photocatalysts based on these flux-treated SrTiO3 for overall water splitting were investigated. Appreciable improvements of photocatalytic activities were achieved for the SrTiO3 samples added with Sc₂O₃; the other oxides (La2O3 and Y2O3) were detrimental. Structural analyses suggested that the Sc3+ cation is a preferable dopant than that of the known dopant of Al3+ in view of the quantitative control in the majority carrier (e−) concentration.