Enhanced Solar Water Splitting Performance of 50-100 nm Pore Sized TiO2 Nanotubes

Abstract

Herein, we report the fabrication of titanium dioxide nanotubes via anodization technique through with and without hydrofluoric acid . The impact of hydrofluoric acid followed by annealing effect on TiO2 nanotubes for the solar water splitting performance was examined. Prepared TiO2 samples exhibited a diameter of about 50 to 100 nm sized nanotubes and hierarchical structures and they subjected to annealing. Synthesis and annealing effects on chemical, physical and photoelectrochemical water splitting activity of TiO2 samples were scrutinized. The crystalline nature, structure and surface morphologies of prepared TiO2 photocatalysts were explored by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and the oxidation states of both titanium and oxygen was determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. As a consequence, after annealing at 500 ºC, TiO2 thin films treated with hydrofluoric acid solution (HF-TiO2) were found to exhibit a remarkable photoelectrochemical performance than bare TiO2 nanotubes under UV light irradiation. Moreover, the mechanistic insights acquired in the current research would be beneficial to design a novel and highly efficient photocatalyst for solar water splitting systems.

Mono and Dinuclear Palladium Pincer Complexes of NNSe Ligand as a Catalyst for Decarboxylative Direct C−H Heteroarylation of (Hetero)arenes

“…The heteroarenes molecules are a privileged class of molecules with a diverse range of applications in polymer industries, [37] semiconductor industries, [38] natural products, [39] drug molecules, [40] and optoelectronic applications [41] . The key challenge in constructing the heteroarenes molecules is the homocoupling reaction between both the starting materials which reduces the yield of heterocoupling products [42] …”

Recent advances in porous molecular cages for photocatalytic organic conversions

“…129 The metal nanoparticles, however, exhibit thermal instability and are prone to migration and coalescence during the catalytic process due to their high surface energy. Encapsulating metal nanoparticles in nano-shells or nano-pores, such as organometallic frameworks (MOFs), [130][131][132][133] covalent organic frameworks (COFs), 134 organic molecular cages, 75,[135][136][137] and amorphous porous organic polymers (POPs), [138][139][140] is expected to prevent the migration and coalescence of NPs, thereby improving their catalytic stability. 141 POC is a potential candidate for synthesizing and stabilizing NPs due to its unique spatial constraint effect.…”

Porous Organic Polymer with Free Carboxylic Acids (Carboxy‐POP) for Heterogeneous Catalytic One‐Pot Synthesis of Xanthenes and Acridines

“…Insofar as hydrothermal stability is concerned, the applications of POPs have already been exemplified for divergent heterogeneous catalytic reactions as well as supports for catalysts. [12][13][14][15][16] A survey of the literature reveals that the number of POPs reported as organocatalysts when compared to those as supports of metal nanoparticles [17][18][19] is limited. There is an incessant quest to develop novel metal-free catalysts that not only display the advantages of homogeneous catalysts in terms of catalytic activity, mild reaction conditions, etc.…”

“…A survey of the literature reveals that the number of POPs reported as organocatalysts when compared to those as supports of metal nanoparticles [17–19] is limited. There is an incessant quest to develop novel metal‐free catalysts that not only display the advantages of homogeneous catalysts in terms of catalytic activity, mild reaction conditions, etc.…”