Journal of Inorganic Materials ›› 2016, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (3): 269-273.DOI: 10.15541/jim20150467

• RESEARCH PAPER • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Photoelectrochemical Properties of AgX(Cl, Br)-TiO2 Heterojunction Nanocomposites

ZHANG Ya-Ping1, ZHANG An-Yu1, YU Lian-Qing1(), DONG Kai-Tuo1, LI Yan2, HAO Lan-Zhong1   

  1. 1. College of Science, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China
    2. College of Mechanics, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China
  • Received:2015-09-28 Revised:2015-12-08 Published:2016-03-20 Online:2016-02-24
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China (21476262);Technology Project of Qingdao (14-2-4-108-jch);Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (R1510059A, 14CX05038A)

Abstract:

Sunlight-driven photoelectrochemical water splitting into hydrogen and oxygen presents a great way to develop green solar energy. Titanium dioxide is believed to be one of the most stable photoanode materials. Here, ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays were prepared by anodic oxidation method. Then AgCl or AgBr were successfully deposited on TiO2 nanotube arrays by dipping method. The morphology and crystal structures of AgX-TiO2 heterojunctions were tested by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The results showed that AgCl was deposited with 50 nm thickness and 1 μm length structure, while AgBr can be evenly dispersed on surface of TiO2 nanotube arrays. AgX amount increased with extending impregnation recycling time, and formed different surface morphology of nanotube arrays. Electrochemical test indicated that suitable amount of AgBr in the TiO2 nanotube arrays improved the photoelectrochemical properties, an optimum photoconversion efficiency obtained at 2.67%. Excess deposited AgX will lead to incompletely utilizing sunlight due to blocked nanotube arrays, and result in lower photoconversion efficiency.

Key words: anodic oxidation method, nanotube, TiO2, photoelectrochemical properties

CLC Number: