Citation: Hanyue ZHENG, Gongxuan LÜ. B-doping enhancing the quantum efficiency of photocatalytic water splitting over strontium titanate photocatalyst[J]. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, ;2026, 42(9): 2008-2020. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20260050 shu

B-doping enhancing the quantum efficiency of photocatalytic water splitting over strontium titanate photocatalyst

Hanyue ZHENG ^{1, 2} ,
Gongxuan LÜ ^1,,

1.
State Key Laboratory of Low Carbon Catalysis and Carbon Dioxide Utilization, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
2.
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China

Corresponding author: Gongxuan LÜ, gxlu@licp.cas.cn
Received Date: 26 May 2026
Revised Date: 20 July 2026

Figures(8)

B-SrTiO₃ was obtained by B-doping SrTiO₃ using the solid-phase synthesis method, followed by loading Rh, Cr, and Co co-catalysts (RCC) to produce the photocatalyst B-SrTiO₃-RCC. The prepared catalyst achieved complete over-all water splitting under 375 nm illumination with an apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) of 82.06%. The hydrogen production rate reached 4.92 mmol·g^-1·h^-1 with excellent stability in a long-term cycle test for approximately 600 h. B-doping induced the structural change of SrTiO₃ crystal from regular cube to truncated octahedron, leading to formation of more surface hydroxyl groups due to B-doping in Ti³⁺ defects, promoting the effective separation and transfer of photogenerated carriers, and thereby effectively enhancing the photocatalytic water splitting activity.
- photocatalytic water splitting,
- SrTiO₃,
- doping,
- apparent quantum efficiency,
- stability
1. [1]
  QIN F, KANG Y Y, SAN X Y, TANG Y L, LI J J, ZHANG X, ZHANG K Y, LIU G. Spontaneous exciton dissociation in Sc-doped rutile TiO₂ for photocatalytic overall water splitting with an apparent quantum yield of 30%[J]. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2025, 147(15): 12897-12907 doi: 10.1021/jacs.5c01936
2. [2]
  SU Z Y, ZHAO Y, ZHU Y Y. Photocatalytic hydrogen production performance of oxygen-containing vacancy-deficient bismuth tungstate[J]. Journal of Molecular Catalysis (China), 2024, 38(2): 154-159
3. [3]
  LIU Z Y, QI R J, LUO H L, YE Z, JIANG Z, SHANGGUAN W F. Iron-doped C₃N₄/BiVO₄ as a Z-scheme photocatalyst system for water splitting[J]. Journal of Molecular Catalysis (China), 2024, 38(2): 112-120
4. [4]
  YU X Q, ZHU X M, WEI X R, LIU H, SUN B. Research progress on the modification of bismuthtungstate photocatalyst towards the pollutant degradation[J]. Journal of Molecular Catalysis (China), 2025, 39(6): 539-548
5. [5]
  MIAO R X, NIU J M, YAN J, JIA X T. Impact of metal doping on the photocatalytic water splitting performance of β-Ga₂O₃ for hydrogen production[J]. Journal of Molecular Catalysis (China), 2025, 39(1): 76-84
6. [6]
  DOMEN K, NAITO S, SOMA M, ONISHI T, TAMARU K. Photocatalytic decomposition of water-vapor on an NiO-SrTiO₃ catalyst[J]. J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Commun., 1980, (12): 543-544 doi: 10.1039/C39800000543
7. [7]
  LI Y J, CAO T P, SUN D W. Oxygen vacancy-regulated enhanced charge separation at SrTiO₃/ZrO₂ heterojunction interface for CO₂ reduction to methane[J]. Journal of Molecular Catalysis (China), 2025, 39(5): 415-426
8. [8]
  TAKATA T, JIANG J Z, SAKATA Y, NAKABAYASHI, MAMIKO S, NAOYA N, VIKAS S, KAZUHIKO H, TAKASHI, DOMEN K. Photocatalytic water splitting with a quantum efficiency of almost unity[J]. Nature, 2020, 581(7809): 411-414 doi: 10.1038/s41586-020-2278-9
9. [9]
  ZHOU B B, BI R K, SHEN Y J, WANG Y, LIU J L, HAN B, WANG Z Y. Enhancement of carrier separation and overall water splitting performance by nitrogen doping in SrTiO₃[J]. ACS Appl. Energy Mater., 2025, 8(16): 11864-11872 doi: 10.1021/acsaem.4c03165
10. [10]
  QIN Y L, WAN Y T, XIANG L J, WANG T G, DONG L, FANG F, CHANG K. Micro-regulating defect-charge delocalization in Cr-doped SrTiO₃ for boosting visible-light-driven overall water splitting[J]. J. Catal., 2024, 437: 115660 doi: 10.1016/j.jcat.2024.115660
11. [11]
  FENG N D, LIU F, HUANG M, ZHENG A M, WANG Q, CHEN T H, CAO G Y, XU J, FAN J, DENG F. Unravelling the efficient photocatalytic activity of boron-induced Ti³⁺ species in the surface layer of TiO₂[J]. Sci. Rep., 2016, 6(1): 1-9 doi: 10.1038/s41598-016-0001-8
12. [12]
  ZHOU T X, YANG Y F, JING Y K, HU Y L, YANG F, SUN W, HE L L. Defective blue titanium oxide induces high valence of NiFe-(oxy)hydroxides over heterogeneous interfaces towards high OER catalytic activity[J]. Chem. Sci., 2023, 14(46): 13453-13462 doi: 10.1039/D3SC04858F
13. [13]
  YING B, TENG Z, SENYSHYN A, AVDEEV M, JONAS A, PENG J L, SIMONSEN S B, INDRIS S, DOLOTKO O, SCHMUCH R, YAN P, MERZ M, NAGEL P, SCHUPPLER S, EHRENBERG H, WINTER M, KLEINER K. Insights into homogeneous bulk boron doping at the tetrahedral site of NCM811 cathode materials: Structure stabilization by inductive effect on TM—O—B bonds[J]. Small, 2025, 21(9): 2409743 doi: 10.1002/smll.202409743
14. [14]
  PIHOSH Y, TURKEVYCH I, MAWATARI K, UEMURA J, KAZOE Y, KOSAR S, MAKITA K, SUGAYA T, MATSUI T, FUJITA D, TOSA M, KONDO M, KITAMORI T. Photocatalytic generation of hydrogen by core-shell WO₃/BiVO₄ nanorods with ultimate water splitting efficiency[J]. Sci. Rep., 2015, 5(1): 11141 doi: 10.1038/srep11141
15. [15]
  MURTHY D H K, NANDAL V, FURUBE A, SEKI K, KATOH R, LYU H, HISATOMI T, DOMEN K, MATSUZAKI H. Origin of enhanced overall water splitting efficiency in aluminum-doped SrTiO₃ photocatalyst[J]. Adv. Energy Mater., 2023, 13(40): 2302064 doi: 10.1002/aenm.202302064
16. [16]
  ÁGOSTON Á, LEHOCZKY P S, BALASSA L, LI Y, LIU R P, BALLAI G, SZAMOSVÖLGYI Á, KUKOVECZ Á, KÓNYA Z, PAP Z. The effect of boron doping on the physicochemical properties and photocatalytic applications of strontium titanate[J]. Ceram. Int., 2025, 51(15): 20033-20041 doi: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2025.02.168
17. [17]
  KALRA P, SAMOLIA M, BASHIR A U, AVASARE V D, INGOLE P P. Engineered electron-deficient sites at boron-doped strontium titanate/electrolyte interfaces accelerate the electrocatalytic reduction of N₂ to NH₃: A combined DFT and experimental electrocatalysis study[J]. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2024, 16(29): 37938-37951 doi: 10.1021/acsami.4c05487
18. [18]
  ZENG H, WU M, WANG H Q, ZHENG J C, KANG J Y. Tuning the magnetism in boron-doped strontium titanate[J]. Materials, 2020, 13(24): 5686 doi: 10.3390/ma13245686
19. [19]
  KAUR G, KAINTH S, KUMAR R, SHARMA P, PANDEY O P. Reaction kinetics during non-isothermal solid-state synthesis of boron trioxide via boric acid dehydration[J]. React. Kinet. Mech. Catal., 2021, 134(1): 347-359 doi: 10.1007/s11144-021-02084-8
20. [20]
  JIA M Z, LU G X. 750 nm visible light-driven overall water splitting to H₂ and O₂ over boron-doped Zn₃As₂ photocatalyst[J]. Appl. Catal. B‒Environ., 2023, 338: 123045 doi: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2023.123045
21. [21]
  FAREED I, FAROOQ M U H, KHAN M D, ALI Z, BUTT F K. Band gap engineering of strontium titanate (SrTiO₃) for improved photocatalytic activity and excellent bio-sensing aptitude[J]. Mater. Sci. Semicond. Process., 2024, 177: 108327 doi: 10.1016/j.mssp.2024.108327
22. [22]
  ESCAMILLA R, HUERTA L. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies of non-stoichiometric superconducting NbB_2+x[J]. Supercond. Sci. Technol., 2006, 19(6): 623 doi: 10.1088/0953-2048/19/6/035
23. [23]
  MIGUEL Q G. Synthesis and characterisation of B-TiO₂ thin films by atmospheric pressure chemical vapour deposition and plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition: Functional films fordifferent substrates[D]. United Kindom: University College London, 2018: 133
24. [24]
  CAMPBELL C T, PEDEN C H F. Oxygen vacancies and catalysis on ceria surfaces[J]. Science, 2005, 309(5735): 713-714 doi: 10.1126/science.1113955
25. [25]
  ZHONG L L, CHEN L Y, XIE X L, QIN Z Z, SU T M. Synthesis of ZnPc/BiVO₄ Z-scheme heterojunction for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline under visible light irradiation[J]. Catalysts, 2024, 14: 722 doi: 10.3390/catal14100722
26. [26]
  QIN Y L, FANG F, XIE Z Z, LIN H W, ZHANG K, YU X, CHANG K. La, Al-codoped SrTiO₃ as a photocatalyst in overall water splitting: Significant surface engineering effects on defect engineering[J]. ACS Catal., 2021, 11(18): 11429-11439 doi: 10.1021/acscatal.1c02874
27. [27]
  NAWAZ R, KAIT C F, CHIA H Y, ISA M H, HUEI L W, SAHRIN N T, KHAN N. Manipulation of the Ti³⁺/Ti⁴⁺ ratio in colored titanium dioxide and its role in photocatalytic degradation of environmental pollutants[J]. Surf. Interfaces, 2022, 32: 102146 doi: 10.1016/j.surfin.2022.102146
28. [28]
  YUE C, XU J H, LIU Z Y, YANG Z G, MU Y, CHEN Q Y, CHEN X T, TAN X M, WANG F F, WANG X N, DASTAN D, YIN X T, REN S, MA X G. Construction of Cr₂O₃-CdS heterojunction for enhancing the response of n-butanol gas[J]. Sens. Actuator. B‒Chem., 2025, 444: 138433 doi: 10.1016/j.snb.2025.138433
29. [29]
  CHEN H H, YANG M, YUE J, CHEN G W. Facile synthesis of CoOOH nanorings over reduced graphene oxide and their application in the reduction of p‑nitrophenol[J]. Materials, 2022, 15(24): 8862 doi: 10.3390/ma15248862
30. [30]
  TRESKE U, HEMING N, KNUPFER M, BÜCHNER B, KOITZSCH A, DI GENNARO E, DI UCCIO U S, GRANOZIO F M, KRAUSE S. Observation of strontium segregation in LaAlO₃/SrTiO₃ and NdGaO₃/SrTiO₃ oxide heterostructures by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy[J]. APL Mater., 2014, 2(1): 012108 doi: 10.1063/1.4861797
31. [31]
  SHEN B, HUANG L L, SHEN J H, HE K, ZHENG C Y, DRAVID V P, WOLVERTON C, MIRKIN C A. Crystal structure engineering in multimetallic high-index facet nanocatalysts[J]. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A., 2021, 118(26): 1-6
32. [32]
  AKINAGA Y, KAWAWAKI T, KAMEKO H, YAMAZAKI Y, YAMAZAKI K, NAKAYASU Y, KATO K, TANAKA Y, HANINDRIYO A T, TAKAGI M, SHIMAZAKI T, TACHIKAWA M, YAMAKATA A, NEGISHI Y. Metal single-atom cocatalyst on carbon nitride for the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction: Effects of metal species[J]. Adv. Funct. Mater., 2023, 33(33): 2303321 doi: 10.1002/adfm.202303321
33. [33]
  CAO Y M, CHEN F, CHEN Y S, CAI M D, XUE J W, WEI Y X, BAI J Q, GUO L S, SUN S. A dual-site co-doping strategy with binary low-valence metal cations for enhanced photocatalytic water splitting over SrTiO₃[J]. Int. J. Hydrog. Energy, 2025, 149(18): 150070
34. [34]
  SU Z Y, FANG F, LI X, HAN W J, LIU X L, CHANG K. Synergistic surface oxygen defect and bulk Ti³⁺ defect engineering on SrTiO₃ for enhancing photocatalytic overall water splitting[J]. J. Colloid Interface Sci., 2022, 626: 662-673 doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.06.109
35. [35]
  TIAN L, GUAN X J, DONG Y C, ZONG S C, DAI A, ZHANG Z Y, GUO L J. Improved overall water splitting for hydrogen production on aluminium-doped SrTiO₃ photocatalyst via tuned surface band bending[J]. Environ. Chem. Lett., 2023, 21(3): 1257-1264 doi: 10.1007/s10311-023-01580-8
36. [36]
  LEE S F, JIMENEZ-RELINQUE E, MARTINEZ I, CASTELLOTE M. Effects of mott-schottky frequency selection and other controlling factors on flat-band potential and band-edge position determination of TiO₂[J]. Catalysts, 2023, 13(6): 1000 doi: 10.3390/catal13061000
37. [37]
  ZHAO Z Q, GONCALVES R V, BARMAN S K, WILLARD E J, BYLE E, PERRY R, WU Z K, HUDA M N, MOULÉ A J, OSTERLOH F E. Electronic structure basis for enhanced overall water splitting photocatalysis with aluminum doped SrTiO₃ in natural sunlight[J]. Energy Environ. Sci., 2019, 12(4): 1385-1395 doi: 10.1039/C9EE00310J
38. [38]
  LIU G, NIU P, WANG L Z, GAO Q, MING H. Achieving maximum photo-oxidation reactivity of Cs_0.68Ti_1.83O_4-xN_x photocatalysts through valence band fine-tuning[J]. Catal. Sci. Technol., 2011, 1: 222-225 doi: 10.1039/c0cy00029a
1. [1]
  Zhiquan YIN , Wenlong ZHEN , Xiaofeng NING , Zhengzhi HAN , Gongxuan LÜ . Mechanism of Al₂O₃ layer in enhancing the stability and activity of GaN for photocatalytic overall water splitting. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2026, 42(7): 1523-1533. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20260038
2. [2]
  Wenlong LI , Xinyu JIA , Jie LING , Mengdan MA , Anning ZHOU . Photothermal catalytic CO₂ hydrogenation over a Mg-doped In₂O_3-x catalyst. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2024, 40(5): 919-929. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20230421
3. [3]
  Fan Fan , Hao Xiu , Yuting Wang , Yongpeng Cui , Yajun Wang . Construction of NH₂-MIL-125/Na-doped g-C₃N₄ composite S-scheme heterojunction and its performance in photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide production. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2026, 42(2): 100143-0. doi: 10.1016/j.actphy.2025.100143
4. [4]
  Wang Wang , Yucheng Liu , Shengli Chen . Use of NiFe Layered Double Hydroxide as Electrocatalyst in Oxygen Evolution Reaction: Catalytic Mechanisms, Electrode Design, and Durability. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2024, 40(2): 2303059-0. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202303059
5. [5]
  Qin Hu , Liuyun Chen , Xinling Xie , Zuzeng Qin , Hongbing Ji , Tongming Su . Construction of Electron Bridge and Activation of MoS₂ Inert Basal Planes by Ni Doping for Enhancing Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2024, 40(11): 2406024-0. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202406024
6. [6]
  Jianqiao ZHANG , Yang LIU , Yan HE , Yaling ZHOU , Fan YANG , Shihui CHENG , Bin XIA , Zhong WANG , Shijian CHEN . Ni-doped WP₂ nanowire self-standingelectrode: Preparation and alkaline electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution property. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2025, 41(8): 1610-1616. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20240444
7. [7]
  Hailian Tang , Siyuan Chen , Qiaoyun Liu , Guoyi Bai , Botao Qiao , Liu Fei . Stabilized Rh/hydroxyapatite Catalyst for Furfuryl Alcohol Hydrogenation: Application of Oxidative Strong Metal-Support Interactions in Reducing Conditions. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2025, 41(4): 100036-0. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202408004
8. [8]
  Shitao Fu , Jianming Zhang , Cancan Cao , Zhihui Wang , Chaoran Qin , Jian Zhang , Hui Xiong . Study on the Stability of Purple Cabbage Pigment. University Chemistry, 2024, 39(4): 367-372. doi: 10.3866/PKU.DXHX202401059
9. [9]
  Jiaxi Xu , Yuan Ma . Influence of Hyperconjugation on the Stability and Stable Conformation of Ethane, Hydrazine, and Hydrogen Peroxide. University Chemistry, 2024, 39(11): 374-377. doi: 10.3866/PKU.DXHX202402049
10. [10]
  Mingxuan Qi , Lanyu Jin , Honghe Yao , Zipeng Xu , Teng Cheng , Qi Chen , Cheng Zhu , Yang Bai . Recent progress on electrical failure and stability of perovskite solar cells under reverse bias. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2025, 41(8): 100088-0. doi: 10.1016/j.actphy.2025.100088
11. [11]
  Xuechen Hu , Qiuying Xia , Fan Yue , Xinyi He , Zhenghao Mei , Jinshi Wang , Hui Xia , Xiaodong Huang . Electrochemical Characteristics of LiNbO₃ Anode Film and Its Applications in All-Solid-State Thin-Film Lithium-Ion Battery. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2024, 40(2): 2309046-0. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202309046
12. [12]
  Yanbo LIU , Jiadong LIU , Qing XIONG , Wutong ZHANG , Zhaosheng ZHANG . First-principles study on the optoelectronic properties and defect characteristics of CeBN₃ (B=Ta, Nb). Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2026, 42(6): 1155-1163. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20260018
13. [13]
  Pingping LU , Shuguang ZHANG , Peipei ZHANG , Aiyun NI . Preparation of zinc sulfate open frameworks based probe materials and detection of Pb²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2025, 41(5): 959-968. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20240411
14. [14]
  Xin Han , Zhihao Cheng , Jinfeng Zhang , Jie Liu , Cheng Zhong , Wenbin Hu . Design of Amorphous High-Entropy FeCoCrMnBS (Oxy) Hydroxides for Boosting Oxygen Evolution Reaction. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2025, 41(4): 100033-0. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202404023
15. [15]
  Ao XIA , Botao YU , Jun CHEN , Guoqiang TAN . Preparation and electrochemical property of Ce-doped MnO₂. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2025, 41(12): 2514-2526. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20250163
16. [16]
  Peng ZHOU , Xiao CAI , Qingxiang MA , Xu LIU . Effects of Cu doping on the structure and optical properties of Au₁₁(dppf)₄Cl₂ nanocluster. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2024, 40(7): 1254-1260. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20240047
17. [17]
  Fan JIA , Wenbao XU , Fangbin LIU , Haihua ZHANG , Hongbing FU . Synthesis and electroluminescence properties of Mn²⁺ doped quasi-two-dimensional perovskites (PEA)₂Pb_yMn_1-yBr₄. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2024, 40(6): 1114-1122. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20230473
18. [18]
  Ximeng CHI , Jianwei WEI , Yunyun WANG , Wenxin DENG , Jiayi DAI , Xu ZHOU . First-principles study of the electronic structure and optical properties of Au and I doped-inorganic lead-free double perovskite Cs₂NaBiCl₆. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2025, 41(7): 1371-1379. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20240401
19. [19]
  Li Tian , Xiangjiu Guan , Jingkuo Qu , Anna Dai , Jiaye Cai , Zheng Zhang , Shichao Zong , Liejin Guo . Boosting photocatalytic overall water splitting efficiency and stability with adjacent cobalt-based dual cocatalysts. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2026, 37(4): 111581-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111581
20. [20]
  Xi YANG , Chunxiang CHANG , Yingpeng XIE , Yang LI , Yuhui CHEN , Borao WANG , Ludong YI , Zhonghao HAN . Co-catalyst Ni₃N supported Al-doped SrTiO₃: Synthesis and application to hydrogen evolution from photocatalytic water splitting. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2025, 41(3): 440-452. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20240371

Get Citation

PDF

XML

Metrics

PDF Downloads(11)
Abstract views(375)
HTML views(65)

通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com

1.
沈阳化工大学材料科学与工程学院沈阳 110142