Photocatalytic Water Oxidation over Metal Oxide Nanosheets Having a Three-Layer Perovskite Structure

Metal oxide nanosheets having a three-layer perovskite structure were studied as photocatalysts for water oxidation in the presence of IO3 (-) as a reversible electron acceptor. This work examined the effects of the lateral dimensions and composition of the nanosheets as well as metal oxide co-catalysts deposited on the restacked nanosheets. Depositing metal oxides capable of promoting reduction reactions on the nanosheets were found to promote the water oxidation activity. In contrast, the lateral dimensions and the degree of crystallinity of the nanosheets had little effect on the activity. Experimental results demonstrated that the reduction of IO3 (-) is the rate-limiting step in this reaction and that nanosheets with less distorted structures are advantageous with regard to increasing both light absorption and the mobility of photoexcited charge carriers.