Long and Well-Separated TiO₂ Nanowire Arrays Decorated with Au Nanoparticles for Visible-Light-Driven Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting

Abstract

Photoelectrodes based on TiO2 decorated with Au nanoparticles (NPs) (Au-TiO2) have attracted great attention for visible-light-driven photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting applications. Herein, we report a highly efficient visible-light-responsive photoanode composed of Au NPs decorated well-separated TiO2 nanowire (NW) arrays with a length up to over 9 μm. The photocurrent was found to be about 16 times higher than that of bare TiO2 NWs under visible-light illumination. Moreover, the photocurrent increased linearly with NW length, suggesting good charge dynamic properties and efficient utilization of the decorated Au NPs of the photoanode. These results indicate that the long and well-separated NW arrays have great potential for future development of PEC devices.

Enhancing the Visible Light Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting of TiO2 Photoanode via a p–n Heterojunction and the Plasmonic Effect

“…Besides, the photocurrent densities of TiO 2 , TiO 2 /CuInS 2 , and TiO 2 /CuInS 2 /Cu under illumination were 0.23, 1.27, and 2.36 mA/cm 2 , respectively, in consistence with the values in Figure c. Moreover, the visible light-driven photocurrent of TiO 2 /CuInS 2 /Cu here (2.36 mA/cm 2 ) was much larger than those of reported TiO 2 -based photoelectrocatalyst films, such as TiO 2 /Au (0.069 mA/cm 2 ), Ag-N,S-C/TiO 2 @CC (0.013 mA/cm 2 ), and N, Ni co-doped BiVO 4 /TiO 2 nanotube arrays (N,Ni-BVO/N-TNA, 1.9 mA/cm 2 ) …”

Nanoporous oxide electrodes for energy conversion and storage devices

“…Xing et al synthesized well-separated single-crystal rutile TiO 2 nanowire arrays with a length of 9 μm by a solvothermal method. 54 The straight axial 1D geometry not only serves as an excellent charge separation and transport channel on its own but also provides a wide surface area, enabling effective noble metal decoration. Recently, the mono-micelle-directed assembly method has enabled the precise arrangement of extremely thin nanowires in TiO 2 nanowire arrays (Fig.…”

STUDIES ON KINETICS AND THERMODYNAMICS OF EFFECTS OF PRIMARY COLOURS ON PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS: PHOTOSYNTHESIS IN Loudetia arundinacea IN FOCUS

“…The influence of visible light on photocatalytic reactions during degradation of dyes had been reported by [1] in their efforts to reduce environmental pollution. Use of visible light to generate hydrogen through electrochemical water splitting had been studied by [2,3] reported photoreduction action of horseredish peroxidase (HRP) under the influence of visible light. The principle of visible light induced reduction was adopted by [4] in the extraction uranium from aqueous solution.…”