La2Ti2O7 (LTO) nanosheets show an effective photocatalytic activity toward generation of hydrogen by splitting water, which has a promising future as a source of renewable and carbon-free energy. In order to enable hydrogen generation under visible-light irradiation, the nitrogen-doped La2Ti2O7 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 La2Ti2O7 nanosheets is cut off at 378 nm while the N-doped La2Ti2O7 nanosheets exhibit the extended light absorption up to 495 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 Pt onto the La2Ti2O7 surface further improved the photocatalytic activity due to the enhanced separation of charge carriers.

Visible-light nitrogen-doped La2Ti2O7 nanosheets for photocatalytic hydrogen generation

244th National Meeting (2012)

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