Preparation of carbon coated TiO2 nanotubes film and its catalytic application for H2 generation

► A facile anodic oxidation/gas thermal penetration compound method was proposed to prepare carbon coated titania nanotube films. ► The coated carbon in the C-TNTs films is partly graphitized and the films have a strong photo response in the visible region. ► The carbon coated titania nanotube films shows high photocatalytic activity for splitting Na2S+Na2SO3 solution into H2, compared with as-prepared titania nanotube films.