Fabrication of a coral/double-wall TiO₂ nanotube array film electrode with higher photoelectrocatalytic activity under sunlight

Abstract

A coral/double-wall TiO 2 nanotube array (coral/DWNT TiO 2 ) film electrode was synthesized via anodic oxidation in an ultrasonic bath in an organic electrolyte containing 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([BMIM][BF 4 ]). The morphology, crystal structure, chemical state, and optical properties of the TiO 2 film were characterized via field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy. The results showed that the film had a unique lower layer DWNT/upper layer coral structure with a mixed phase of anatase and rutile. The XPS results proved that the interstitial nitrogen atoms doped in the TiO 2 crystal lattice as a Ti-O-N bond. The coral/ DWNT TiO 2 film exhibited evident absorption in the range of 400 nm to 800 nm and significant photoelectrocatalytic activity under sunlight.

Electrically conductive polyaniline sensitized defective-TiO2for improved visible light photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical performance: a synergistic effect

“…Nitrogen doping in TiO 2 was reported to shift the binding energy of TiO 2 to a lower binding energy. 20 Because the Pani backbone is rich in nitrogen sites, a possible interaction with the lone pair of nitrogen and defective sites (Ti 3+ and/or oxygen vacancy) of the m-TiO 2 can occur. 21 Therefore, Pani interacts differently with p-TiO 2 and m-TiO 2 due to the presence of defects, and a much stronger interfacial interaction may exist in the case of the s-Pani@m-TiO 2 nanocomposite leading to a slight shift in the binding energy.…”

Synthesis, properties, and applications of black titanium dioxide nanomaterials

“…So far, many approaches have been attempted [21][22][23][24][25]. For example, introducing metal (such as Fe, Co, Cr, Ni, and Mo) [26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37], noble-metal (such as Au, Ag, and Pt) [38,39] or non-metal elements (such as N, C, F, and S) [22,[40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50], and co-doping metal and non-metal elements (such as Mo + C, Fe + N, Mo + S, and Co + N, S) [51][52][53][54][55][56][57] have been used to enhance the light absorption properties.…”

Double‐Walled ZrO2 Nanotube Array: Preparation and Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity

“…Differently, the sample of SZNA still exhibited a dense, single‐walled structure (Figure d). Under UV‐Vis light irradiation, the porosity of tube wall for the double‐walled structure can significantly improve the scattering of light inside nanotube . So double‐walled ZrO 2 nanotube array exhibited more promising UV‐Vis absorption than single‐walled ZrO 2 nanotube array.…”