Semiconductor particles used in water decomposition photocatalyst, photocatalyst using the same, and methods of synthesizing them

Abstract

In a photocatalyst which is obtained by adding a co-catalyst to semiconductor particles containing strontium titanate and which causes a water decomposition reaction in which water molecules are decomposed into oxygen molecules and hydrogen molecules according to light emission, the semiconductor particles are doped with barium or additionally with scandium. A method of synthesizing a semiconductor for the photocatalyst includes a process of synthesizing semiconductor particles containing strontium titanate doped with barium by mixing barium titanate or additionally with scandium oxide into strontium chloride or mixing strontium titanate or additionally scandium oxide into strontium chloride and barium chloride and performing firing.