Template-free synthesis of single-crystal SrTiO3 nanocages for photocatalytic overall water splitting

Abstract

In this study, we present a novel approach to achieve the template-free fabrication of nanocage-shaped SrTiO₃ (N-STO) single crystals via molten salt flux treatment. Systematic characterizations demonstrate the high crystallinity and low defect density of N-STO. The N-STO single crystals enable overall water splitting (OWS) with hydrogen and oxygen evolution rates of 100.86 μmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹ and 44.2 μmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹, respectively, which is 5.7-fold higher than the porous SrTiO₃ (P-STO) control.