Modification of SrTiO3 surface by nitrogen ion bombardment for enhanced photocatalysis

Modification of SrTiO3 (STO) surface by nitrogen ion bombardment was performed in order to achieve a strong and broadband photocatalysis in STO via incorporations of nitrogen ions and surface defects. Enhanced UV photocatalysis and a fairly strong visible-light one were observed in nitrogen ion-bombarded STO. UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and contact angle measurements were performed. The characterization results revealed that nitrogen ions and surface defects were introduced simultaneously. The incorporated nitrogen ions were found to narrow the band gap of STO, and the surface defects acted as extra adsorptive sites, which make a strong and broadband photocatalysis possible. Our work indicates that nitrogen ion bombardment is an effective method to enhance the photocatalytic ability of STO in a synergetic manner.