Preparation of SnO2@C-doping TiO2 nanotube arrays and its electrochemical and photoelectrochemical properties

SnO2@carbon-doping TiO2 nanotube arrays (SnO2@C-TiO2NTs) were synthesized by hydrothermal method and evaluated for lithium ion insertion and photoelectrochemical activity. The composite electrode prepared for 5 h as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries exhibited much improved electrochemical performance due to the aligned pore structure and the synergistic effect of the electrode. A capacity of 142 μA h cm−2 can be obtained after 50 discharge/charge cycles at a high current density of 200 μA cm−2. Moreover, UV–vis results of the sample showed stronger absorption intensity in the range of 200–800 nm compared with bare TiO2NTs. The composite electrode displayed the maximum photocurrent density of 1.80 mA cm−2. This is attributed to the heterojunction formed at the interface between SnO2 and TiO2NTs resulting the enhance charge separation efficiency. Eletrochemical impendence spectroscopy (EIS) also shows that SnO2@C-TiO2 NTs has a noticeably lower charge-transfer resistance.

► SnO2 nanoparticels synthesized by hydrothermal method were loaded on carbon doping TiO2NTs.
► SnO2@C-TiO2NTs showed optimal electrochemical and photoelectrochemical properties due to the heterojunction formed at the interface and the synergistic effect of the electrode.