Developement of photocatalyst working under visible light based on the elucidation of the photocatalytic properties to the overall H2O splitting

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K05669
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 36020:Energy-related chemistry
• Research Institution: Yamaguchi University
• Principal Investigator: Sakata Yoshihisa 山口大学, 大学院創成科学研究科, 教授 (40211263)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 光触媒 / H2O 分解反応 / 高活性化 / SrTiO3 / 金属イオンドープ / 助触媒 / 表面制御 / 水素製造

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The elucidation of the factors for the improvement of the photocatalytic performance to the overall H2O splitting was performed on StTiO3 photocatalysts to develop the photocatalysts acted to the photocatalytic reaction at the practical level. The photocatalytic activity improved remarkably with using the low valent cation, such as Na ion, doped SrTiO3 prepared with using high purity low materials with loading effective co-catalyst for hydrogen production reaction. The photocatalytic activity and the life further improved by co-loading a co-catalyst for oxygen production reaction. Particularly, applying the photocatalyst that controlling the surface crystal facets and effective loading the co-catalysts to the reaction, the photocatalytic reaction proceeded with utilizing the almost all adsorbed photon. These factors for the improvement of the photocatalytic property were investigated to adopt to the other photocatalysts.

Free Research Field

触媒化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

光触媒によるH2O分解反応は光エネルギーを用いてH2を直接H2Oから生成させる重要な光触媒反応であるが、光触媒自身の活性は低く、この反応の実用化を視野に入れた場合、光触媒活性向上とその要因の解明は必須である。本研究は、SrTiO3光触媒について、そのバルクや表面を修飾して、光触媒反応過程を制御することで、この反応に対して実用化レベルの高い光触媒活性を発現させることに成功し、その活性向上メカニズムを解明した。さらに、得られた知見に基づいて、別の光触媒についてH2O分解反応に対する高活性化を実現した。これらの成果は太陽光と光触媒によるH2OからH2を製造するプロセス開発に関して重要な知見となる。