Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
7721670 | International Journal of Hydrogen Energy | 2013 | 8 Pages |
Abstract
We report on the design and synthesis of a novel Au/TiO2/Au heterostructure and its implementation as a photoanode for photoelectrochemical (PEC) application. The Au/TiO2/Au heterostructure was produced by assembling Au nanoparticles and TiO2 nanorods (NRs) onto FTO substrate, followed by electrodepositing Au nanoparticles on the TiO2NRs. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and electrochemical methods were adopted to characterize the prepared photoanodes. Compared to the system involving Au nanoparticles directly linked to TiO2, this Au/TiO2/Au heterostructure exhibits significant improved photoresponse as a photoanode, as demonstrated good performance in PECs. This study illustrates the importance of pre-deposited Au underlayers in influencing PEC properties of hybrid assembled nanostructures. As the Au/TiO2NRs/Au photoanodes are easily fabricated and highly stable, Au/TiO2NRs/Au can serve as a good substitution for TiO2 in a variety of solar energy driven applications including PEC water splitting, photocatalysis, and solar cells.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Chemistry
Electrochemistry
Authors
Yongkun Li, Hongmei Yu, Changkun Zhang, Li Fu, Guangfu Li, Zhigang Shao, Baolian Yi,