Double-side illuminated titania nanotubes for high volume hydrogen generation by water splitting

摘要

A sonoelectrochemical anodization method is proposed to synthesize TiO_2 nanotubular arrays on both sides of a titanium foil (TiO_2/Ti/TiO_2). Highly ordered TiO_2 nanotubular arrays of 16 cm~2 area with uniform surface distribution can be obtained using this anodization procedure. These double-sided TiO_2/Ti/TiO_2 materials are used as both photoanode (carbon-doped titania nanotubes) and cathode (Pt nanoparticles dispersed on TiO_2 nanotubes; PtTiO_2/Ti/PtTiO_2) in a specially designed photoelectrochemical cell to generate hydrogen by water splitting at a rate of 38 ml h~(-1). The nanomaterials are characterized by FESEM, HRTEM, STEM, EDS, FFT, SAED and XPS techniques. The present approach can be used for large-scale hydrogen generation using renewable energy sources.