Cobalt modified tungsten–titania nanotube composite photoanodes for photoelectrochemical solar water splitting

• Published in: Journal of materials science. Materials in electronics 2016-04, Vol.27 (4), p.3318-3327
• Main Authors: Momeni, Mohamad Mohsen, Ghayeb, Yousef
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anodizing; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Cobalt; Field emission; Materials Science; Nanostructure; Optical and Electronic Materials; Scanning electron microscopy; Titanium dioxide; Water splitting; X-rays
• ISSN: 0957-4522; 1573-482X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10854-015-4161-2

Cobalt modified tungsten–titania nanotubes (Co/WTNs) with different amounts of cobalt were prepared by two methods; photo-assisted deposition and one-step electrochemical anodizing method. The morphology, crystallinity, elemental composition and light absorption capability of samples were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy methods. All cobalt loaded samples show a red shift relative to the unloaded samples. The photo-catalytic water splitting was used as a model reaction to evaluate the photo-catalytic activity of the obtained samples. The photo-catalytic performance was examined under xenon lamp irradiation in 1 M NaOH electrolyte. All cobalt modified samples showed photo-catalytic properties better than that for the bare WTNs and bare TiO 2 samples. The total amount of H 2 evolved on the Co/WTNs2 sample was 1.9 times higher than that on the bare TiO 2 sample. The catalysts prepared in this study exhibit industrially relevant interests due to the low cost and high photocatalytic activity. These new photoanodes are highly promising photoanodes for photo-catalytic hydrogen production.