A new glass substrate photoelectrocatalytic electrode for efficient visible-light hydrogen production: CdS sensitized TiO2 nanotube arrays

Transparent and visible-light-response CdS sensitized TiO2 nanotube arrays (TNAs) photoelectrode was fabricated on conductive glass with the aim to improve the mechanical stability and light utilization of traditional Ti-foil-based titania nanotubes electrode. The sample was studied by FESEM, EDX and XPS to characterize its morphology and chemical compostion. UV–vis absorption spectra and photoelectrochemical measurement approved that the CdS coating enhanced the visible spectrum absorption of the TiO2 nanotube array, as well as their solar-spectrum induced photocurrents. Under visible-light AM 1.5 illumination (100 mW/cm2) the composite photoelectrode generate hydrogen from water containing sulfide ions at a rate of 1.12 mL/cm2 h, nearly 7.46 times higher than that of pure TNAs or 11.79 times than that of commercial P25 glass electrode. Such kind of material will has potential application in solar water splitting and other fields.