Tantalum doped BaZrO3 for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen generation by water splitting

Ta doped BaZrO3 photocatalyst with a cubic perovskite structure was synthesized using precipitation from homogenous solution method. After calcination, the obtained BaZr1-xTaxO3 (x = 0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03. 0.04 and 0.05) samples were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, surface area analyses and photocatalytic activity. As-prepared BaZr1-xTaxO3 samples show efficient hydrogen generation by water splitting without addition of any co-catalyst under UV-vis light irradiation. The highest hydrogen production rate (180 mu mol/h) was achieved by BaZr0.96Ta0.04O3 which could be attributed to extended absorption in visible region and surface area. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.