Carbon-incorporated TiO2 photoelectrodes prepared via rapid-anodic oxidation for efficient visible-light hydrogen generation

Carbon-incorporated titanium dioxide (TiO2) photoelectrodes with different structural features were prepared via rapid-anodic oxidation under different electrical potentials and exposure times. The interstitial carbon arising from the pyrogenation of ethylene glycol electrolytes induced a new C2p occupied state at the bottom of the conduction band, which lowered the band gap energy to ∼2.3 eV and consequently enabled the visible-light responsiveness. Photoelectrodes with nanotubular structures provided higher photoconversion efficiency (η) and hydrogen (H2) evolution capability than those with irregular structures. The increased aspect ratio, wall thickness, and pore size of the nanotube arrays contributed to η through greater photon excitation and penetration. However, this contribution is limited by the high recombination of the charge carriers at ultra-high aspect ratios. Photoelectrodes with a nanotube length of ∼19.5 μm, pore size of ∼103 nm, wall thickness of ∼17 nm, and aspect ratio of ∼142.5 exhibited remarkable capability to generate H2 at an evolution rate of up to ∼508.3 μL min−1 cm−2 and η of ∼2.3%.

► Visible-light responsive TiO2 nanotubes were grown with 325 nm min−1 growth rate.
► The presence of adventitious carbon induced the decrease in the band gap energy.
► Exposure and concealment area of nanotubes greatly influenced its properties.
► A maximum H2 evolution rate up to ∼508.3 μL min−1 cm−2 was achieved.