Hydrogenated SrTiO 3 /TiO 2 (H:(STO/TiO 2 )) with unique heterostructured arrays was prepared, followed by the immobilization of plasmonic Au nanoparticles to form robust composite photoelectrodes. The synergistic effects of heterocoupling of perovskite-type STO on TiO 2 nanotube arrays and plasmonic Au-decoration substantially improved the photocatalytic performance with visible light. In contrast to pure TiO 2 , H:(STO/ TiO 2 ) facilitated an efficient transfer of electrons between STO and TiO 2 , and decreased the recombination ratios of photoexcited electron−hole pairs. Plasmonic Au also effectively boosted the photoresponse under irradiation with visible light. Photocurrent density of 2.3 mA cm −2 under visible light irradiation (λ > 400 nm) with IPCE peaking at 17% and a concomitant apparent quantum efficiency of 3.5% in the 580−680 nm region was achieved. Faradaic efficiency was estimated to be about 80% at the oxygen evolution rate of 18.5 μmol cm −2 h −1 under simulated sunlight irradiation (AM1.5G, 100 mW cm −2 ). With the aid of X-ray absorption spectra in situ and ultrafast transient absorption spectra, the detailed understanding of the underlying mechanism during photoinduced processes in Au/H:(STO/TiO 2 ) is well elucidated.
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