Facile treatment to eliminate carbon-rich layer in TiO2 nanotube photoanodes

초록

TiO2 nanotubes have been numerously utilized in photoelectrochemical field due to its intrinsic and structural advantages. However, TiO2 nanotubes anodized in organic electrolyte endemically involve carbon-rich layers inside of nanotubes, frequently interrupting charge transfers and photocatalytic reactions. In this study, we investigated some different treatments of TiO(2 )nanotubes to eliminate carbon-rich layers from anodic TiO2 nanotubes. Firstly, photoelectrochemical properties of TiO2 with various thickness were addressed, and the TiO(2 )nanotubes with 3.65 mu m were selected for the further treatments. Subsequently, the morphological properties of TiO2 were optimized to be utilized as a photoanode through the different treatment methods. In conclusion, the optimal TiO2 nanotubes treated by mechanical grinding and chemical etching process behaved as an efficient photoanode with enhanced photocurrent of 0.2 mA/cm(2), IPCE of 59% at 350 nm and lowered charge transfer resistance of 983 Omega.

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