Abstract
Photocatalytic activities for hydrogen evolution of lanthanide titanium oxides, Ln 2Ti 2O 7 (Ln = La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, and Yb) prepared by a solid-state reaction were studied. Hydrogen gas was clearly evolved in distilled water suspension of La 2Ti 2O 7 and Sm 2Ti 2O 7. From the photoelectrochemical measurements, the values of the flat band potential were estimated to be −0.04, −0.02, +0.27 eV for La 2Ti 2O 7, Sm 2Ti 2O 7, Gd 2Ti 2O 7, respectively, versus the normal hydrogen electrode (NHE). The values of the band gap energy were calculated to be about 3.29, 2.79, 2.82 eV for La 2Ti 2O 7, Sm 2Ti 2O 7, Gd 2Ti 2O 7, respectively. The photocatalytic activities of Ln 2Ti 2O 7 (La, Sm, and Gd) were discussed along with detailed band structures estimated in this study. From the band structures, Sm 2Ti 2O 7 is a possible candidate of photocatalyst responding to visible light.
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