One step synthesis of self-doped F–Ta2O5 nanoshuttles photocatalyst and enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Abstract

Tantalic oxide (Ta2O5), as an excellent transition metal oxide photocatalyst, has been extensively studied on fluorination or self-doped for hydrogen production, while there is little research to combine the two modifications. In this work, surface fluorination self-doped Ta2O5 nanoshuttles (FTNSs) photocatalyst is synthesized successfully by a modified one-step hydrothermal method. The test results show the presence of surface fluorine ions, Ta4+ and oxygen vacancies in the sample. The FTNSs prepared by hydrothermal method under 180 °C for 24 h exhibits the highest hydrogen evolution rate (HER). The HER is 179.2 and 19.78 μmol h−1 g−1 in the absence of any co-catalyst under full-spectrum and simulated solar light, respectively, which is higher than that of the Ta2O5 nanoshuttles without fluoride and the commercial Ta2O5. The higher HER can attribute to the existence of F, Ta4+ and oxygen vacancies, which enhance the photogenerated carrier mobility and reduce the recombination.