Plasma Electrolytic Formation and Photoelectrochemical Properties of Zr- and/or Ce-Containing Oxide Layers on Titanium

• Published in: Russian journal of inorganic chemistry 2022-09, Vol.67 (9), p.1460-1464
• Main Authors: Vasilyeva, M. S., Lukiyanchuk, I. V., Shchitovskaya, E. V., Golushko, A. D., Kondrikov, N. B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aqueous electrolytes; Cerium oxides; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Composite materials; Inorganic Chemistry; Inorganic Materials and Nanomaterials; Oxidation; Photoelectric effect; Photoelectric emission; Titanium; Titanium dioxide; Ultraviolet radiation; Water splitting; X ray powder diffraction; Zirconium dioxide
• ISSN: 0036-0236; 1531-8613
• DOI: 10.1134/S0036023622090182

Ti/TiO 2 –ZrTiO 4 –ZrO 2 , Ti/TiO 2 –CeO 2 , and Ti/TiO 2 –ZrTiO 4 composites have been fabricated by the one-stage plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) in aqueous electrolytes containing 0.05 mol/L Zr(SO 4 ) 2 , 0.05 mol/L Ce(SO 4 ) 2 , or their mixtures, respectively. The surface morphology and composite composition have been studied by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and energy dispersive analysis. The photoelectrochemical properties of the composites have been studied under UV light in the potential range of 0.0–1.2 V. The Ti/TiO 2 –ZrTiO 4 –ZrO 2 composites exhibit high photoelectrochemical activity: they generate photocurrents of 73 μA without potential and 230 μA in the potential range from 0.2 to 1.2 V. Such composites are promising as active photoanodes for water splitting. The introduction of cerium into the PEO coatings leads to a sharp decrease in photocurrents (0.1–10 μA).