Shape-controlled synthesis of golf-like, star-like, urchin-like and flower-like SrTiO3 for highly efficient photocatalytic degradation and H2 production

As a typical perovskite-type metal oxide , SrTiO 3 has emerged as prospective candidate for many fields. However, the synthesis of SrTiO 3 with controlled morphology, high surface area, and enhanced photocatalytic activity are still lacking. Herein, a series of porous SrTiO 3 with well-controlled morphologies including assembled nanoparticles (ANPs), golf-like particles (GLPs), star-like microspheres (SLMs), urchin-like microspheres (ULMs), and flower-like microspheres (FLMs) were successfully prepared via an ethylene glycol-water mixed solvothermal route. The ratio of V EG /V H2O play an important role in the shape-evolution during the solvothermal reaction. A comparative study of photocatalytic H 2 production and photodegradation was performed, and a possible photocatalysis mechanism of SrTiO 3 has been proposed. Significantly, the ULMs and FLMs photocatalysts of SrTiO 3 with optimized low Pt loading amount (0.075  wt %) exhibited outstanding H 2 production rates (8.21 and 7.29 mmol g −1  h −1 ) due to its unique structure of high-surface area and defect-rich surface. The facile and shape-controlled synthesis of varied SrTiO 3 structures is believed to be useful for the design and application of perovskite .