Synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic evaluation of strontium ferrites towards H2 production by water splitting under visible light irradiation

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 42; no. 51; pp. 30257 - 30266
• Main Authors: Jiménez-Miramontes, J.A., Domínguez-Arvizu, J.L., Salinas-Gutiérrez, J.M., Meléndez-Zaragoza, M.J., López-Ortiz, A., Collins-Martínez, V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 2017
• Subjects: Hydrogen production; Photocatalysis; Strontium ferrites; Water splitting; Strontium ferrites; Water splitting; Photocatalysis; Hydrogen production
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2017.09.162

Renewable hydrogen production demands materials with adequate structural, textural, optical and photocatalytic properties for the splitting of the water molecule under visible light irradiation. In this research, the spinel, hexagonal and orthorhombic strontium ferrite crystalline phases (SrFe2O4, SrFe12O19 and Sr7Fe10O22) were synthesized, characterized and photocatalytically evaluated towards H2 production through water splitting. These materials show attractive features such as being inexpensive, environmentally friendly and present visible spectrum band gaps (1.5–2.5 eV). Strontium ferrites were synthesized from nitrate precursors by the modified Pechini's method at high temperatures. Characterization consisted in XRD, SEM, BET surface area, and UV–Vis spectroscopy. XRD results indicate the presence of pure phases with a crystal size of 15, 30 and 30 nm for the spinel, hexagonal and orthorhombic phases, while BET surface area were 18, 14 and 4 m2/g, respectively. Photocatalytic evaluation resulted in the spinel phase being the most active material producing 730 μmol H2/g h. •SrFe2O4, SrFe12O19 and Sr7Fe10O22 are active photocatalyst towards H2 production.•Synthesis by the modified Pechini's method at high temperatures was used.•SrFe2O4, SrFe12O19 and Sr7Fe10O22 have band gaps of 1.77, 1.74 and 1.82 eV.•Spinel and orthorhombic phases are the most active photocatalysts for H2 production.