Direct confirmation of the dopant site in indium-doped SrTiO3 photocatalyst via atomic-scale analytical transmission electron microscopy imaging

Confirming the dopant site of In3+-doped SrTiO3 (In-STO) is essential to reveal the mechanism of its photocatalytic activity. In a previous study, x-ray absorption spectroscopic analysis and theoretical investigations were performed to discuss the dopant site, and In3+-Ti4+ substitution was proposed. However, direct confirmation of the In3+ dopant site has not yet been reported. Here, we performed direct atomic-scale imaging of In-STO crystals via analytical transmission electron microscopy and revealed the dopant site based on real-space elemental mapping. The Ti and Sr sites in the SrTiO3 crystal lattice were well identified by atomic column elemental mapping using energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The EDS signal of indium has a stronger intensity at the Ti site than at the Sr site, based on the total analysis of each Ti and Sr atomic column. By applying principal component analysis on the raw EDS spectral imaging data cube, the indium site was clearly imaged; it completely fit into the Ti atomic column positions. These results provide direct evidence of In-Ti substitution in In-STO photocatalysts.

Automated summary

Direct atomic-scale imaging and real-space elemental mapping revealed the dopant site in In-STO crystals, providing direct evidence of In-Ti substitution in In-STO photocatalysts.