Fabrication of a novel heterostructure of Co3O4-modified TiO2 nanorod arrays and its enhanced photoelectrochemical property

A novel heterostructure of Co3O4-modified TiO2 nanorod arrays (NRs) is fabricated by a facile two-step solution-based method. First, TiO2 NRs grow on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) conductive glass substrates by hydrothermal method. Afterward, Co3O4 nanoparticles were coated on the TiO2 NRs using a photochemical coating method. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission electron-scanning microscopy, transmission electron microscopic, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and UV–visible spectroscopy. For the first time, the photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties of the electrode made by the Co3O4-modified TiO2 NRs were investigated under visible-light irradiation. The results showed remarkably enhanced visible light PEC response of the Co3O4-modified TiO2 NRs in comparison with the pure TiO2 NRs, offering attractive perspectives for applications of the Co3O4-modified TiO2 NRs in solar cells or photocatalysts.

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► We developed a facile route for the fabrication of Co3O4 -modified TiO2 NRs.
► The Co3O4-modified TiO2 NRs obviously increase the visible light absorption.
► The superior photoelectrochemical activity is achieved on the Co3O4-modified TiO2 NR.