Examining the surface evolution of LaTiO_xN_y an oxynitride solar water splitting photocatalyst.

ABSTRACT: LaTiO_xN_y oxynitride thin films are employed to study the surface modifications at the solid-liquid interface that occur during photoelectrocatalytic water splitting. Neutron reflectometry and grazing incidence x-ray absorption spectroscopy were utilised to distinguish between the surface and bulk signals, with a surface sensitivity of 3 nm. Here we show, contrary to what is typically assumed, that the A cations are active sites that undergo oxidation at the surface as a consequence of the water splitting process. Whereas, the B cations undergo local disordering with the valence state remaining unchanged. This surface modification reduces the overall water splitting efficiency, but is suppressed when the oxynitride thin films are decorated with a co-catalyst. With this

SUBMITTER: Lawley C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7138824 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature