Water splitting and carbon dioxide reduction over alkaline-earth tantalate photocatalysts loaded with metal oxide cocatalysts

Calcium and strontium tantalates with general formula A(2)Ta(2)O(7) (A = Ca, Sr) were prepared by the solid-state synthesis and evaluated in the photocatalytic water splitting and CO2 reduction. A predominance in the water splitting processes is observed in both materials obtaining competitive yields for H-2 and O-2 compared to the results reported in the literature. A better performance was observed in the Sr2Ta2O7 sample associated with its crystalline structure and morphology (H-2 = 807 mmol g(-1), O-2 = 296 mmol g(-1), CO = 5 mmol g(-1) for 6 h). Besides, both materials were decorated with Co3O4 and CuO particles acting as cocatalysts. The presence of these oxides enhanced the evolution of the products considerably due to the efficient charges transport avoiding their recombination, being the Co3O4 loaded sample the most efficient in both cases. The presence of CuO favored the formation of CO in both tantalate materials; however, their rates are not comparable with the obtained for H-2 and O-2, being the water-splitting process also predominant with the use of both cocatalysts. (C) 2021 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Calcium and strontium tantalates synthesized by solid-state synthesis were evaluated for photocatalytic water splitting and CO2 reduction, showing competitive yields for H-2 and O-2. The Sr2Ta2O7 sample exhibited better performance due to its crystalline structure and morphology. Co3O4 and CuO particles as cocatalysts enhanced product evolution by efficient charges transport, with Co3O4 proving to be the most efficient. CuO favored CO formation in the tantalate materials, but the water-splitting process remained predominant with both cocatalysts.