Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 February 2011
Tantalate and titanate photocatalysts were prepared by solid-state reaction at 1273 K using various ratios of SrCO3, Ta2O5, and TiO2 as starting materials. The prepared solid photocatalysts were characterized using XRD and SEM analysis. These prepared tantalate and titanate photocatalysts showed high photocatalytic H2 evolution activity by water splitting without co-catalyst loading. The highest H2 evolution rate of prepared photocatalysts was found to be 138 μmolh−1 with the starting materials ratio of 2/0.5/1.5 (Sr/Ta/Ti; mol). Furthermore, this photocatalyst showed photocatalytic activity for H2 evolution from distilled water.