Plasma-induced surface interactions of Pd/SrTiO₃ catalyst for improved performance of photocatalytic degradation of toluene

Defective engineering and the addition of noble metal are effective strategies to realize the high photocatalytic performance of SrTiO₃ perovskite. Here, the Pd/SrTiO₃ catalyst was successfully prepared by the low-temperature plasma treatment coupling with photochemical deposition of metal Pd, which was applied to the photocatalytic degradation of toluene. Compared with single STO, STON, and Pd-STO catalysts, the prepared Pd-STON catalyst shows the excellent UV photocatalytic performance toward toluene degradation, realizing a ca.80 % degradation efficiency within 90 min reaction time. Based on various characterizations, it revealed that plasma treatment promoted the formation of surface oxygen defects, and strengthened the metal-support interaction. The resultant surface oxygen vacancy accelerated the migration rate of photogenerated electrons and the separation of electrons and holes in space, benefiting for superior performance. It is expected that this study can provide new avenues for the rational design of highly efficient photocatalysts for potential practical applications.