Photocatalytic generation of hydrogen with visible-light nitrogen-doped lanthanum titanium oxides

In order to generate hydrogen by splitting water under visible-light irradiation, nitrogen-doped La2Ti2O7 (LTO) nanosheets loaded with the Pt nanoparticles have been synthesized by hydrothermal processing, followed with wet impregnation and subsequent heat treatment in a NH3 flow. The light absorption of the pristine LTO nanosheets is cut off at 330 nm while the N-doped LTO nanosheets exhibit the extended light absorption up to 560 nm. Nitrogen doping has not only resulted in the visible-light-responsive photocatalytic water splitting but also enhanced the ultraviolet-light-responsive photocatalytic activity. Loading the Pt nanoparticles on the LTO surface further improved the photocatalytic activity due to the enhanced separation of charge carriers.

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► La2Ti2O7 nanosheets were synthesized.
► Two steps were applied to improve the photocatalytic activity of La2Ti2O7 nanosheets for H2 generation: Pt loading and N doping.
► N-doped La2Ti2O7 nanosheets loaded with Pt had highest rate of H2 generation.