Easy synthesis of titania–tungsten trioxide nanocomposite films by anodising method for solar water splitting

Abstract

Titania–tungsten trioxide (W-TiO₂) films were in situ fabricated by the electrochemical anodising of titanium in a non-aqueous electrolyte solution containing sodium tungstate as the tungsten source. Glycerol was used as a green solvent. The morphology, structure and composition of synthesised films were characterised by SEM, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and UV–visible respectively. The results indicated that sodium tungstate concentration in anodising solution significantly influenced the morphology of the surface, structure and photocatalytic activity of these films. So to access an optimum morphology, a proper concentration of sodium tungstate is required. Photocatalytic activity of samples was evaluated by testing the solar water splitting. The W1-TiO₂ sample exhibited better photocatalytic activity than the bare TiO₂ film and other W-TiO₂ samples.

Keywords

Coating Film Nanoporous Nanotube Solar water splitting Tungsten

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Xue

, Sun

, Wang

, Yan

and Zhao

: ‘Effect of NH₄F concentration and controlled-charge consumption on the photocatalytic hydrogen generation of TiO₂ nanotube arrays’, Electrochim. Acta, 2015, 155, 312–320. doi: 10.1016/j.electacta.2014.12.134

Muradov

N. Z.

and Veziroglu

T. N.

: ‘Green path from fossil-based to hydrogen economy: an overview of carbon-neutral technologies’, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 2008, 33, 6804–6839. doi: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2008.08.054

Parayil

S. K.

, Kibombo

H. S.

, Wu

C. M.

, Peng

, Baltrusaitis

and Koodali

R. T.

: ‘Enhanced photocatalytic water splitting activity of carbon-modified TiO₂ composite materials synthesized by a green synthetic approach’, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 2012, 37, 8257–8267. doi: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2012.02.067

Momeni

M. M.

and Hosseini

M. G.

: ‘Different TiO₂ nanotubes for back illuminated dye sensitized solar cell: fabrication, characterization and electrochemical impedance properties of DSSCs’, J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Electron., 2014, 25, 5027–5034. doi: 10.1007/s10854-014-2267-6

Yang

, Wang

, Yang

, Li

, Zhang

and Zhao

: ‘Energy storage ability and anti-corrosion properties of Bi-doped TiO₂ nanotube arrays’, Electrochim. Acta, 2015, 169, 227–232. doi: 10.1016/j.electacta.2015.04.076

Hosseini

M. G.

and Momeni

M. M.

: ‘Platinum nanoparticle-decorated TiO₂ nanotube arrays as new highly active and non-poisoning catalyst for photoelectrochemical oxidation of galactose’, Appl. Catal. A, 2012, 427A, 35–42. doi: 10.1016/j.apcata.2012.03.027

, Wang

, Ma

, Xiao

, Yuan

and Zhang

: ‘Honeycombed TiO₂ nanotube arrays with top-porous/bottom-tubular structures for enhanced photocatalytic activity’, Ceram. Int., 2015, 41, 2527–2532. doi: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2014.10.075

Hosseini

M. G.

, Momeni

M. M.

and Faraji

: ‘Fabrication of Au nanoparticle /TiO₂ nanotubes electrodes using electrochemical methods and their application for electrocatalytic oxidation of hydroquinone’, Electroanalysis, 2011, 23, 1654–1662. doi: 10.1002/elan.201000656

Kanta

A. F.

, Poelman

and Decroly

: ‘Electrochemical characterisation of TiO₂ nanotube array photoanodes for dye-sensitized solar cell application’, Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells, 2015, 133, 76–81. doi: 10.1016/j.solmat.2014.10.029

10.

, Shen

Y. G.

, Alajmi

, Yang

S. Y.

, Sun

J. M.

and Zhang

H. M.

: ‘Sol–gel preparation and properties of Ag-TiO₂ films on surface roughened Ti-6Al-4V alloy’, Mater. Sci. Technol., 2015, 31, 501–505. doi: 10.1179/1743284714Y.0000000650

11.

Torkian

, Amini

M. M.

and Amereh

: ‘Sol–gel synthesised silver doped TiO₂ nanoparticles supported on NaX zeolite for photocatalytic applications’, Mater. Sci. Technol., 2013, 28, 111–116.

12.

Yang

R. C.

, Zhang

Z. H.

, Ren

Y. M.

, Zhang

, Chen

Z. M.

and Xu

M. D.

: ‘Green synthesis of bi-component copper oxide composites and enhanced photocatalytic performance’, Mater. Sci. Technol., 2015, 31, 25–30. doi: 10.1179/1743284714Y.0000000586

13.

S. H.

and Liu

Z. F.

: ‘Enhanced photocatalytic activity of core shell SnO₂/ZnO photocatalysts’, Mater. Sci. Technol., 2013, 28, 234–237.

14.

Liao

C. H.

, Huang

C. W.

and Wu

J. C. S.

: ‘Hydrogen production from semiconductor-based photocatalysis via water splitting’, Catalysts, 2012, 2, 490–516. doi: 10.3390/catal2040490

15.

Kudo

and Miseki

: ‘Heterogeneous photocatalyst materials for water splitting’, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2009, 38, 253–278. doi: 10.1039/B800489G

16.

, Wang

, Kong

, Jia

and Wang

: ‘Synthesis and characterization of carbon modified TiO₂ nanotube and photocatalytic activity on methylene blue under sunlight’, Appl. Surf. Sci., 2015, 344, 176–180. doi: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2015.03.085

17.

Momeni

M. M.

, Ghayeb

and Davarzadeh

: ‘Single-step electrochemical anodization for synthesis of hierarchical WO₃-TiO₂ nanotube arrays on titanium foil as a good photoanode for water splitting with visible light’, J. Electroanal. Chem., 2015, 739, 149–155. doi: 10.1016/j.jelechem.2014.12.030

18.

Gim

, Seong

, Choi

Y. W.

and Choi

: ‘RuO₂-doping into high-aspect-ratio anodic TiO₂ nanotubes by electrochemical potential shock for water oxidation’, Electrochem. Commun., 2015, 52, 37–40. doi: 10.1016/j.elecom.2015.01.004

19.

Momeni

M. M.

and Ghayeb

: ‘Photoelectrochemical water splitting on chromium-doped titanium dioxide nanotube photoanodes prepared by single-step anodizing’, J. Alloys Compd, 2015, 637, 393–400. doi: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2015.02.137

20.

Hua

, Dai

, Bai

, Ye

, Gu

and Huang

: ‘A facile one-step electrochemical strategy of doping iron, nitrogen, and fluorine into titania nanotube arrays with enhanced visible light photoactivity’, J. Hazard. Mater., 2015, 293, 112–121. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2015.03.049

21.

Momeni

M. M.

, Ghayeb

and Davarzadeh

: ‘Electrochemical construction of different titania-tungsten trioxide nanotubular composite and their photocatalytic activity for pollutant degradation: a recyclable photocatalysts’, J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Electron., 2015, 26, 1560–1567. doi: 10.1007/s10854-014-2575-x

22.

Zhao

J. L.

, Wang

X. H.

, Chen

R. Z.

and Li

L. T.

: ‘Fabrication of titanium oxide nanotube arrays by anodic oxidation’, Solid State Commun., 2005, 134, 705–710. doi: 10.1016/j.ssc.2005.02.028

23.

Sun

, Li

, Wang

C. L.

, Li

S. F.

, Chen

H. B.

and Lin

C. J.

: ‘An electrochemical strategy of doping Fe³⁺ in to TiO₂ nanotube array films for enhancement in photocatalytic activity’, Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells, 2009, 93, 1875–1880. doi: 10.1016/j.solmat.2009.07.001

24.

Zhu

, Tao

and Dong

: ‘Preparation and photoelectrochemical activity of Cr-doped TiO₂ nanorods with nanocavities’, J. Phys. Chem. C, 2010, 114C, 2873–2879. doi: 10.1021/jp9085987

25.

Iliev

, Tomova

, Rakovsky

, Eliyas

and Li Puma

: ‘Enhancement of photocatalytic oxidation of oxalic acid by gold modified WO₃/TiO₂ photocatalysts under UV and visible light irradiation’, J. Mol. Catal. A, 2010, 327A, 51–57. doi: 10.1016/j.molcata.2010.05.012