Study on the photocatalytic activity of K2La2Ti3O10 doped with vanadium (V)

The layered perovskite type oxides, K2La2Ti3O10 and V-doped K2La2Ti3O10 were prepared by sol–gel method and characterized by different methods such as powder X-ray diffraction, UV–vis diffuse reflectance and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of the catalyst powders for water splitting was investigated with I− as electron donor under ultraviolet and visible light irradiation, respectively. The electronic structure of the powders has been analyzed by the first principles calculation, showing the photo responses in the visible region and the improvement of the photocatalytic activity of K2La2Ti3O10. It is found that V-doped K2La2Ti3O10 exhibited higher photocatalytic activity of hydrogen production. When I− was used as electron donor, the optimum doping concentration of vanadium (V) was found to be 0.015:1 (nV:nTi). The average hydrogen production rate of V-doped K2La2Ti3O10 under ultraviolet irradiation was 96 μmol/(gcat h) raised by 75% compared with the undoped K2La2Ti3O10, the average hydrogen production rate under visible irradiation was 42.2 μmol/(gcat h) raised by 167% compared with the undoped K2La2Ti3O10.