Na-containing Pt cocatalyst for efficient visible-light-induced hydrogen evolution on BaTaO2N

A high degree of cocatalyst dispersion and intimate contact with the photocatalyst are vital for improving the activity of narrow bandgap photocatalytic materials. In this work, the addition of a small number of Na ions to a Pt cocatalyst deposited on a semiconducting BaTaO2N photocatalyst (with an absorption edge of 650 nm) enhanced photocatalytic H2 evolution under visible light irradiation. The addition of Na ions to the Pt-loaded BaTaO2N (Pt/BaTaO2N) caused more efficient evolution of H2 than Na-free Pt/BaTaO2N during Z-scheme overall water splitting. These results should assist in the fabrication of photocatalysts modified with highly dispersed cocatalysts for efficient water splitting.