Effects of grain morphology, microstructure and dispersed metal cocatalyst on the photoreduction of water over impurity-doped LaInO3

TitleEffects of grain morphology, microstructure and dispersed metal cocatalyst on the photoreduction of water over impurity-doped LaInO3
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2012
AuthorsDhanasekaran, P, Gupta, NM
JournalMaterials Research Bulletin
Volume47
Issue5
Pagination1217-1228
Date PublishedMAY
ISSN0025-5408
KeywordsCatalytic properties, Chemical synthesis, Electron microscopy, Interfaces, Semiconductors
Abstract

The single phase lanthanum indates doped with Ga (for La) and N (for O), i.e. La1-xGaxInO3 (0 <= x <= 0.2) and LaInO1-yNy (y similar to 0.6), exhibit significant activity for photoreduction of water; the yield of H-2 produced depending on dopant, excitation source, and addition of a sacrificial reagent. The two-step H-2 evolution observed for this reaction corresponds with the two distinct absorbance regimes displayed by these materials, one in UV-region due to bandgap excitation and the other in visible region arising from the transitions involving sub-bandgap donor or acceptor energy states. The photocatalytic activity of these d(10) metal oxides increases on coating with a metal/metal oxide co-catalyst, gold exhibiting superior activity to Pt and NiO, irrespective of excitation source and sample composition. The preparation-controlled particle morphology, doping-induced lattice imperfections, and metal/semiconductor hetero-junctions are envisaged to play a key role in the absorption characteristics and photocatalytic water reduction activity of metal/LaInO3 nanocomposites. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

DOI10.1016/j.materresbull.2012.01.031
Type of Journal (Indian or Foreign)Foreign
Impact Factor (IF)1.913
Divison category: 
Catalysis and Inorganic Chemistry