Sensitization of TiO2 nanostructures with Coumarin 343

In this work the synthesis of hybrid electrodes obtained by electrochemical functionalization of nanotubular TiO2 arrays with diazonium salt and subsequent sensitization with Coumarin is proposed. Nanotubes are grown by electrochemical anodization of Ti foils. Anodization is performed at 35 V in ethylene glycol solution and in the presence of fluoride ions. The results obtained in the present study indicate that the functionalization with diazonium allows itself an enhancement of the current yield of the water electrosplitting process. Photocurrents further increased after the sensitization of the samples with Coumarin dye, so indicating good chances for possible applications of the electrodes in DSSC.

► TiO2 nanotubes electrochemically functionalizated with diazonium salt are investigated.
► Subsequent sensitization with Coumarin is proposed.
► Photocatalytic properties of the obtained samples, used as photoanodes, are compared.
► Functionalization with diazonium allows itself an enhancement of the current yield.
► The presence of the adsorbed dye further increases the performance of the sample.