Highly efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production by platinum modified ferroelectric SrBi4Ti4O15

•Pt nanoparticles (NPs) were successfully loaded onto several atomic-layer-thick SrBi4Ti4O15 (SBTO) nanosheets via an efficient preparation method.•The average hydrogen evolution rate of SBTO-Pt-6 wt% is ∼ 3700 μmol g-1h−1, which exceeds that of many ferroelectric catalysts.•DFT calculations showed that added Pt NPs are active sites for hydrogen evolution.•Localized surface plasmon resonance effects as well as excellent electron trapping ability of Pt NPs play crucial roles.