Room-Temperature Rutile TiO2 Nanoparticle Formation on Protonated Layered Titanate for High-Performance Heterojunction Creation

We report a methodology for creating protonated layered titanate rutile heterojunctions on the outer particle surface of protonated layered titanate by treating layered potassium titanate (K0.8Ti1.73Li0.27O4) with dilute HC1 and then drying it at room temperature under reduced pressure. After Pt co-catalyst loading, this protonated layered titanate/rutile composite with heterojunctions showed higher photocatalytic H-2 evolution activity from water under simulated solar light compared to that of Pt-Poaded P25, the standard photocatalyst for this reaction. The high photo catalytic activity was ascribable to enhanced photocatalytic activity of the protonated layered titanate based on an efficient charge separation at the protonated layered titanate rutile heterojunctions in addition to the sensitization effects of rutile, which absorbs light with longer wavelengths compared to those of protonated layered titanate.