Direct Fabrication of LaTiO2N Photoanode for Visible-light-driven Water Splitting

This study demonstrates direct fabrication of a visible-light-responsive LaTiO2N film via nitridation of the La2Ti2O7 film hydrothermally prepared on a titanium substrate as an oxide precursor. The thickness and surface morphology of the film were not significantly affected by nitridation. An anodic photocurrent was observed for the LaTiO2N film fabricated using colloidal IrO2 as a cocatalyst for the oxidation of water, indicating the oxidation of water. This implies that the fabricated LaTiO2N film functions as an n-type semiconductor electrode under visible-light irradiation.