Photochargeability of SrTiO3/Ni/hydrogenSrTiO3/Ni/hydrogen storage alloy electrode in KOH solution

Strontium titanate thin films doped with niobium have been deposited on nickel substrate by RF magnetron sputtering. After annealing treatment at 300–600∘C, the LaNi3.7Al1.3LaNi3.7Al1.3 hydrogen storage alloy was deposited on the back of the nickel substrate by DC magnetron sputtering to form an SrTiO3/Ni/hydrogenSrTiO3/Ni/hydrogen storage alloy (SNH) electrode. The microstructure and morphology of the Nb-doped SrTiO3SrTiO3 thin films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The photoelectrochemical performances of the annealed SrTiO3SrTiO3 thin film electrodes were investigated by using a potentiostat/galvanostat apparatus. The photochargeability of the SNH electrodes were measured with a battery program-control test system. The SNH electrodes can be photocharged and discharged. With increasing the annealing temperature of Nb-doped SrTiO3SrTiO3 thin film, the photocurrent and photochargeability increased. The mechanism of photochargeable behavior of SNH electrode was explained.