Activation of Water-Splitting Photocatalysts by Loading with Ultrafine Rh–Cr Mixed-Oxide Cocatalyst Nanoparticles

The activity of many water-splitting photocatalysts could be improved by the use of Rh^III–Cr^III mixed oxide (Rh_2−xCr_xO₃) particles as cocatalysts. Although further improvement of water-splitting activity could be achieved if the size of the Rh_2−xCr_xO₃ particles was decreased further, it is difficult to load ultrafine (<2 nm) Rh_2−xCr_xO₃ particles onto a photocatalyst by using conventional loading methods. In this study, a new loading method was successfully established and was used to load Rh_2−xCr_xO₃ particles with a size of approximately 1.3 nm and a narrow size distribution onto a BaLa₄Ti₄O₁₅ photocatalyst. The obtained photocatalyst exhibited an apparent quantum yield of 16 %, which is the highest achieved for BaLa₄Ti₄O₁₅ to date. Thus, the developed loading technique of Rh_2−xCr_xO₃ particles is extremely effective at improving the activity of the water-splitting photocatalyst BaLa₄Ti₄O₁₅. This method is expected to be extended to other advanced water-splitting photocatalysts to achieve higher quantum yields.