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, SrTiO3 has emerged as prospective candidate for many fields. However, the synthesis of SrTiO3 with controlled morphology, high surface area, and enhanced photocatalytic activity are still lacking. Herein, a series of porous SrTiO3 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 VEG/VH2O play an important role in the shape-evolution during the solvothermal reaction. A comparative study of photocatalytic H2 production and photodegradation was performed, and a possible photocatalysis mechanism of SrTiO3 has been proposed. Significantly, the ULMs and FLMs photocatalysts of SrTiO3 with optimized low Pt loading amount (0.075 wt%) exhibited outstanding H2 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 SrTiO3 structures is believed to be useful for the design and application of perovskite.