Effect of precursors on the morphology and the photocatalytic water-splitting activity of layered perovskite La2Ti2O7

Abstract

A [110] layered perovskite, La2Ti2O7, was a good photocatalyst under ultraviolet light in water splitting reaction. The material was synthesized with La2O3 and TiO2 as precursors by solid-state transformation. The morphology and photocatalytic activity of La2Ti2O7 depended on the preparation methods, as well as purity and morphology of the precursors. Wet-grinding of precursors in ethanol gave a product with higher crystallinity and phase purity, and thus higher photocatalytic activity, than dry-grinding without solvent. It was important to reduce the particle size of La2O3, as it usually had larger initial particle sizes than TiO2. Thus, the particle size of La2O3 had a strong effect on the crystallinity and surface area of the product La2Ti2O7. On the other hand, a severe chemical purity control was required for TiO2, while the effect of morphology was relatively small. In all cases, a high degree of crystallinity and purity of the prepared La2Ti2O7 was critical to show a high photocatalytic water-splitting activity