Hydrothermal synthesis of flaky crystallized La2Ti2O7 for producing hydrogen from photocatalytic water splitting

Flaky monoclinic La2Ti2O7 was prepared via a hydrothermal method based on the reaction of Ti(SO4)(2) and La(NO3)(3). Relative to the solid-state reaction sample, the flaky La2Ti2O7 showed higher surface areas, much smaller crystal size and more efficient light absorption. All these factors led to the higher photoactivity to produce H-2 from water splitting under UV irradiation.