Abstract: Glow discharge plasma was used to modify NiO/SrTiO3 photocatalyst prepared by impregnation method. According to XRD, XPS, and TEM characterizations, the metal dispersion and stability of catalyst were greatly improved. XPS, thermo- gravimetric, and XRD characterizations showed that impregnated Ni(NO3)2 was decomposed into amorphous NiO clusters at room temperature. These clusters may have a strong interaction with the support, contributing to the enhanced metal dispersion and stability. The high metal dispersion can improve the electron transfer from semiconductor to metal and provide more active sites. The photocatalytic activity for water splitting to hydrogen and methanol solution conversion to hydrogen is 1.3 and 1.8 times of that of conventional catalyst.

Key words: Photocatalysis, Hydrogen generation, Glow discharge plasma, Water splitting, Nickel