Electrochemical approach to evaluate the mechanism of photocatalytic water splitting on oxide photocatalysts

Journal Article · Mon Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 2004 · Journal of Solid State Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jssc.2004.08.001· OSTI ID:20658199

Matsumoto, Yasumichi ^[1]; Unal, Ugur ^[1]; Tanaka, Noriyuki ^[1]; Kudo, Akihiko ^[2]; Kato, Hideki ^[2]

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1. Faculty of Engineering, Department of Applied Chemistry, Kumamoto University, Kurokami 2-39-1, Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto-ken, 860-8555 (Japan)
2. Faculty of Science, Science University of Tokyo, 1-3 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8601 (Japan)

Photoelectrochemical measurements of TiO{sub 2}, NaTaO{sub 3}, and Cr or Sb doped TiO{sub 2} and SrTiO{sub 3} photocatalysts were carried out in H{sub 2} and O{sub 2} saturated electrolytes in order to evaluate the reverse reactions during water photolysis. The poor activity of TiO{sub 2} as a result of reverse photoreactions of O{sub 2} reduction and H{sub 2} oxidation was revealed with the respective high cathodic and anodic photocurrents. The rise in the photocurrents at NaTaO{sub 3} after La doping was in harmony with the doping-induced increase in the photocatalytic activity. NiO loading suppresses the O{sub 2} photoreverse reactions, which declines photocatalytic activity, and/or promotes the photo-oxidation of water, because the O{sub 2} photo-reduction current was scarcely observed near the flatband potential. Photocurrents of O{sub 2} reduction and H{sub 2} oxidation were observed under visible light for the Cr and Sb doped SrTiO{sub 3} and TiO{sub 2}, respectively. These phenomena are in harmony with the previous reports on the photocatalysts examined with sacrificial reagents.

• OSTI ID: 20658199
• Journal Information: Journal of Solid State Chemistry, Journal Name: Journal of Solid State Chemistry Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 177; ISSN 0022-4596; ISSN JSSCBI
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CHROMIUM COMPOUNDS
DOPED MATERIALS
ELECTROLYTES
FILMS
HYDROGEN
INTERFACES
NICKEL OXIDES
OXIDATION
OXIDES
PHOTOCHEMISTRY
PHOTOCURRENTS
PHOTOLYSIS
REDUCTION
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
STRONTIUM TITANATES
TANTALUM COMPOUNDS
TITANIUM OXIDES