Hydrogen production by the photocatalytic overall water splitting on : Effect of preparation method

Sr 3 Ti 2 O 7 , which was known to a Ruddlesden–Popper phase as a layered perovskite-type oxide, was synthesized by the solid-state reaction method (SSRM) and polymerized complex method (PCM) in order to decompose pure water into hydrogen and oxygen without any co-catalyst. Under ultra-violet ( λ < 400 nm ) irradiation, Sr 3 Ti 2 O 7 catalyst prepared by the PCM was found to show promising results compared with that prepared by SSRM. When Ni was loaded onto Sr 3 Ti 2 O 7 catalyst prepared by the PCM, this photocatalytic activity drastically increased. The highest activity was obtained by the loading of 3 wt.% of Ni. Moreover catalyst prepared by the PCM was also found to improve the stability of catalytic activity against long periods of photoirradiation.