On the modifications in the electronic and catalytic properties of lanthanum chromite induced by strontium and cobalt doping

Abstract Efficient and sustainable hydrogen generation is fundamental to the transition to a clean energy economy. Water dissociation is a key method for producing green hydrogen when powered by renewable energy sources. The substitution of cations such as strontium and cobalt in the lanthanum chromite crystal lattice induces structural modifications that increase oxygen vacancies, thereby modulating electronic conductivity and enhancing surface catalytic activity for water dissociation. Furthermore, it is possible to create materials sensitive to specific wavelengths; this tuning capability is essential in photovoltaics, photocatalysis, and optoelectronics. In this work, we investigate the modifications in the electronic and catalytic properties of lanthanum chromite induced by strontium and cobalt doping. To assess the material’s potential for hydrogen production using thermochemical water splitting, thermogravimetric analysis was conducted, yielding a hydrogen production capacity of 0.252 mmol/g. Analysis performed using reflectance spectroscopy showed that the band gap can be tuned within a range of 1.69–2.88 eV. Furthermore, the solar absorbance of the materials was observed to increase from 92 % to 98 % in the UV–Vis range due to doping, this improvement in absorption increases power conversion efficiency.