Highly porous TiO2 films from anodically deposited titanate hybrids and their photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic activity

Hybrid films of TiO2 and benzoquinone, its derivative 2-methyl-benzoquinone or the dye 2,9,16,23-tetrasulfophthalocyaninatonickel(II) were prepared by anodic electrodeposition from titanium alkoxide solutions. Calcination of the films at 450 °C led to removal of the organics and the formation of crystalline and highly porous TiO2 films as seen in XRD and Kr adsorption measurements, respectively. In dye-sensitized solar cells the films achieved an overall light-to-electricity conversion efficiency of 0.8% despite a low film thickness of 0.55 μm. In the photocatalytic decomposition of methylene blue the films showed photonic efficiencies of up to 0.09% for film thicknesses around 0.5 μm, which is much higher than those of comparable TiO2 films prepared by sol–gel method.