Al‐Doped LaTiO2N Prepared via Flame Spray Pyrolysis for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

LaTiO2N photocatalysts are attractive because they are responsive to visible light up to a wavelength of 600 nm. However, during the nitridation process to produce LaTiO2N from La2Ti2O7, the introduction of defects can cause a reduction in the hydrogen evolution activity of the photocatalyst, which...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mayu Inose, Shuhei Nakakura, Takashi Hisatomi, Tsuyoshi Takata, Kazunari Domen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley-VCH 2025-07-01
Series:Advanced Energy & Sustainability Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/aesr.202400321
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849429968972414976
author Mayu Inose
Shuhei Nakakura
Takashi Hisatomi
Tsuyoshi Takata
Kazunari Domen
author_facet Mayu Inose
Shuhei Nakakura
Takashi Hisatomi
Tsuyoshi Takata
Kazunari Domen
author_sort Mayu Inose
collection DOAJ
description LaTiO2N photocatalysts are attractive because they are responsive to visible light up to a wavelength of 600 nm. However, during the nitridation process to produce LaTiO2N from La2Ti2O7, the introduction of defects can cause a reduction in the hydrogen evolution activity of the photocatalyst, which limits its application to overall water splitting. Such defects can arise due to the change in crystal structure and the occurrence of overnitridation. Herein, it is demonstrated that nitridation of a metastable La–Ti oxide obtained by flame spray pyrolysis (FSP) can suppress the formation of such defects. A detailed analysis of the transition pathway during nitridation reveals that a combination of FSP and Al doping is essential for suppressing mesopore formation resulting from the volume change and Ti4+ reduction due to overnitridation. This leads to an increase in the apparent quantum yield for Al‐doped LaTiO2N during the visible‐light‐driven hydrogen evolution reaction, compared to that for undoped LaTiO2N. In the present study, insights are provided into the importance of minimizing structural changes during the synthesis of oxynitride photocatalysts by designing isostructural precursors for enhanced photocatalytic activity.
format Article
id doaj-art-86606de4d8434df8909d2692c98917a8
institution Kabale University
issn 2699-9412
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Wiley-VCH
record_format Article
series Advanced Energy & Sustainability Research
spelling doaj-art-86606de4d8434df8909d2692c98917a82025-08-20T03:28:10ZengWiley-VCHAdvanced Energy & Sustainability Research2699-94122025-07-0167n/an/a10.1002/aesr.202400321Al‐Doped LaTiO2N Prepared via Flame Spray Pyrolysis for Photocatalytic Hydrogen EvolutionMayu Inose0Shuhei Nakakura1Takashi Hisatomi2Tsuyoshi Takata3Kazunari Domen4Department of Science and Technology Graduate School of Medicine, Science and Technology Shinshu University 4‐17‐1 Wakasato Nagano‐shi Nagano 380‐8533 JapanIchikawa Research Center Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd 3‐18‐5 Nakakokubun Ichikawa Chiba 272‐8588 JapanInstitute for Aqua Regeneration Shinshu University 4‐17‐1 Wakasato Nagano‐shi Nagano 380‐8533 JapanResearch Initiative for Supra‐Materials (RISM) Interdisciplinary Cluster for Cutting Edge Research Shinshu University 4‐17‐1 Wakasato Nagano‐shi Nagano 380‐8533 JapanInstitute for Aqua Regeneration Shinshu University 4‐17‐1 Wakasato Nagano‐shi Nagano 380‐8533 JapanLaTiO2N photocatalysts are attractive because they are responsive to visible light up to a wavelength of 600 nm. However, during the nitridation process to produce LaTiO2N from La2Ti2O7, the introduction of defects can cause a reduction in the hydrogen evolution activity of the photocatalyst, which limits its application to overall water splitting. Such defects can arise due to the change in crystal structure and the occurrence of overnitridation. Herein, it is demonstrated that nitridation of a metastable La–Ti oxide obtained by flame spray pyrolysis (FSP) can suppress the formation of such defects. A detailed analysis of the transition pathway during nitridation reveals that a combination of FSP and Al doping is essential for suppressing mesopore formation resulting from the volume change and Ti4+ reduction due to overnitridation. This leads to an increase in the apparent quantum yield for Al‐doped LaTiO2N during the visible‐light‐driven hydrogen evolution reaction, compared to that for undoped LaTiO2N. In the present study, insights are provided into the importance of minimizing structural changes during the synthesis of oxynitride photocatalysts by designing isostructural precursors for enhanced photocatalytic activity.https://doi.org/10.1002/aesr.202400321gas‐phase methodsmetastable structuresparticlesperovskitesvisible‐light responses
spellingShingle Mayu Inose
Shuhei Nakakura
Takashi Hisatomi
Tsuyoshi Takata
Kazunari Domen
Al‐Doped LaTiO2N Prepared via Flame Spray Pyrolysis for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
Advanced Energy & Sustainability Research
gas‐phase methods
metastable structures
particles
perovskites
visible‐light responses
title Al‐Doped LaTiO2N Prepared via Flame Spray Pyrolysis for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
title_full Al‐Doped LaTiO2N Prepared via Flame Spray Pyrolysis for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
title_fullStr Al‐Doped LaTiO2N Prepared via Flame Spray Pyrolysis for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
title_full_unstemmed Al‐Doped LaTiO2N Prepared via Flame Spray Pyrolysis for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
title_short Al‐Doped LaTiO2N Prepared via Flame Spray Pyrolysis for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
title_sort al doped latio2n prepared via flame spray pyrolysis for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution
topic gas‐phase methods
metastable structures
particles
perovskites
visible‐light responses
url https://doi.org/10.1002/aesr.202400321
work_keys_str_mv AT mayuinose aldopedlatio2npreparedviaflamespraypyrolysisforphotocatalytichydrogenevolution
AT shuheinakakura aldopedlatio2npreparedviaflamespraypyrolysisforphotocatalytichydrogenevolution
AT takashihisatomi aldopedlatio2npreparedviaflamespraypyrolysisforphotocatalytichydrogenevolution
AT tsuyoshitakata aldopedlatio2npreparedviaflamespraypyrolysisforphotocatalytichydrogenevolution
AT kazunaridomen aldopedlatio2npreparedviaflamespraypyrolysisforphotocatalytichydrogenevolution