Surface Natrotantite Phase Induced Efficient Charge Carrier Separation and Highly Active Surface of TaON for Superior Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance

Physicochemical properties of semiconductors are highly sensitive to the interface from other heterophase, which provides great potential to enhance the solar energy conversion performance through interfacial modification. Surface natrotantite (Na₂Ta₄O₁₁)‐modified TaON photocatalyst is successfully synthesized and it is demonstrated that, although Na₂Ta₄O₁₁ itself is not involved in the charge carrier transfer process, a small amount of the natrotantite phase (less than 0.1%) on TaON surface has a great effect on charge carrier separation behavior, surface reactivity, and photocatalytic performance of TaON. The photocurrent and corresponding photocatalytic performance toward water oxidation of modified TaON with optimal amount of Na₂Ta₄O₁₁ under visible light are about five and seven times that of pristine TaON. In particular, the water oxidation performance on Na₂Ta₄O₁₁‐modified TaON is comparable to that loaded with noble metal cocatalyst platinum (Pt), which demonstrates a facial method to modify the solar energy convention materials.