Observation of visible light-driven water splitting by TiO₂ crystallized glass

Study on visible light response of photocatalytic materials is very important research area for future energy society. Generally, in conventional photocatalysts, visible light response is provided by defect introduction. This phenomenon is based on formation of trap level between valence and conduction band. In our previous report, we have already succeeded in observing the photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ crystallized glass. Since glass-based material is suitable for industrial use, crystallized glass is expected to be a novel bulk photocatalyst with high productivity if we provide visible light response ability to TiO₂ crystallized glass. In this study, we tried the defect introduction to TiO₂ crystallized glass and investigated the photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation. As a result, we have demonstrated water splitting by TiO₂ crystallized glass with Ti³⁺ defect under visible light irradiation for the first time.