Tunable photocatalytic activity of SrTiO3 for water splitting: Strategies and future scenario

With accelerating depletion of fossil fuels and non-renewable resources, researchers have gained interest towards solar energy braced water splitting as a sustainable pathway to fulfil global energy demands. Recently, strontium titanate (SrTiO3) has emerged as remarkable photocatalyst for hydrogen and oxygen evolution utilizing energy from solar spectrum. SrTiO3 based photocatalyst has been extensively established due to its appropriate VB potential (2.8 eV) for O2 generation and (0.4 eV) CB potential promotes high H2 quantum yield. In this in-exclusive review, latest advancement of photocatalyst, distinct schematic synthesis routes and detailed strategies to enhance photocatalytic activity has been systematically discussed. Predominantly, expounded strategies have been reviewed involving incorporation of transition metal ion and rare earth metals as dopants, heterostructure construction and Z-scheme driven photocatalytic system. The sole aim of review is to highlight limitations and possible routes of SrTiO3 to obtain extended visible light irradiation, modulation of band gap and surface engineering for efficient water splitting. Lastly, challenges and future aspects of SrTiO3 based photocatalysts have been detailed focusing on realization of large-scale application of hydrogen and oxygen evolution.