Critical Role of the Semiconductor–Electrolyte Interface in Photocatalytic Performance for Water-Splitting Reactions Using Ta₃N₅ Particles

Distinct photocatalytic performance was observed when Ta3N5 was synthesized from commercially available Ta2O5 or from Ta2O5 prepared from TaCl5 via the sol–gel route. With respect to photocatalytic O2 evolution with Ag+ as a sacrificial reagent, the Ta3N5 produced from commercial Ta2O5 exhibited higher activity than the Ta3N5 produced via the sol–gel route. When the Ta3N5 photocatalysts were decorated with Pt nanoparticles in a similar manner,...