The visible-light photocatalytic activity for enhancing RhB degradation and hydrogen evolution from SrTiO₃ nanoparticles decorated red phosphorus nanorods as photocatalysts

Visible-light-sensitive crystalline red phosphorus (P) nanorod composited with SrTiO₃ (STO) particles have been successfully assembled via a solid-state reaction routine, wherein STO nanoparticles were immobilized on the surface of P nanorods. The obtained crystalline P/STO heterostructured composites with an intimate interfacial contact facilitate efficient charge separation and transfer of photogenerated electron–hole pairs, and the P nanorods with a large exposed surface exhibit strong Vis-light absorption. Therefore, by adjusting different molar ratio and calcination temperature, the P_2.0/STO-700 °C composites presented the best photocatalytic activities of RhB degradation and hydrogen evolution (169.95 µmolh⁻¹ g⁻¹) and possessed high stability during three cycling experiments. The reaction rate constant (k _app) of the optimum P_2.0/STO-700 °C composites is about 215 times and 11.3 times as high as that of pristine STO and P, respectively. In this paper, the crystalline, morphologies and optical properties of the as-prepared photocatalysts were sufficiently studied via various characterization techniques. Meanwhile, a reasonable charge transfer mechanism on P/STO composites was brought up and a trapping experiment was analysized in detail. This research provides some perspectives for the future development of P-based photocatalytic materials. (paper)