A review on highly ordered, vertically oriented TiO2 nanotube arrays: Fabrication, material properties, and solar energy applications

In this study highly ordered titania nanotube arrays of variable wall thickness are used to photocleave water under ultraviolet irradiation. We demonstrate that the wall thickness and length of the nanotubes can be controlled via anodization bath temperature. We find that the nanotube wall thickness is a key parameter influencing the magnitude of the photoanodic response and the overall efficiency of the water-splitting reaction. For 22 nm inner pore diameter nanotube arrays, those fabricated in a 5 °C anodization bath, 224 nm length and 34 nm wall thickness produced a photoanodic response that was thrice that of a nanotube array fabricated in a 50 °C anodization bath, 120 nm length and 9 nm wall-thickness. At high anodic polarization, above 1 V, the quantum efficiency under 337 nm illumination was greater than 90%. For the 5 °C anodization bath samples (22 nm pore-diameter, 34 nm wall thickness), upon 320−400 nm illumination at an intensity of 100 mW/cm2, hydrogen gas was generated at the power−time norm...

Enhanced Photocleavage of Water Using Titania Nanotube Arrays

In this article, we present recent advances that we have achieved toward improving the properties of anodically formed semiconducting TiO2 nanotubes as well as nanowire arrays as electrodes for oxidative photoelectrochemistry. The morphology, crystallinity, composition, and illumination geometry of nanotube or nanowire arrays are critical factors in their performance as photoelectrodes. We discuss the key aspects relating to each factor and the advances achieved in improving each. With respect to the more fully investigated nanotube arrays, the ability to control the morphological parameters such as pore size, tube length, and wall thickness of the nanotube architecture has enabled high performance in applications such as water photoelectrolysis, photocatalysis, dye-sensitized solar cells, and heterojunction TiO2−polymer hybrid solar cells. We begin by reviewing the photoelectrochemical performance of state-of-the-art nanotube arrays fabricated on planar substrates. We then present more recent results rel...

Recent Advances in the Use of TiO2 Nanotube and Nanowire Arrays for Oxidative Photoelectrochemistry

Anodization of titanium in a fluorinated dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and ethanol mixture electrolyte is investigated. The prepared anodic film has a highly ordered nanotube-array surface architecture. Using a 20 V anodization potential (vs Pt) nanotube arrays having an inner diameter of 60 nm and 40 nm wall thickness are formed. The overall length of the nanotube arrays is controlled by the duration of the anodization, with nanotubes appearing only after approximately 48 h; a 72 h anodization results in a nanotube array approximately 2.3 μm in length. The photoelectrochemical response of the nanotube-array photoelectrodes is studied using a 1 M KOH solution under both UV and visible (AM 1.5) illumination. Enhanced photocurrent density is observed for samples obtained in the organic electrolyte, with an UV photoconversion efficiency of 10.7%.

Fabrication of Highly Ordered TiO2 Nanotube Arrays Using an Organic Electrolyte

We examine the visible light water-photoelectrolysis and photoelectrochemical properties of highly ordered titania nanotube arrays as a function of nanotube crystallinity, length (up to 6.4 μm), and pore size. Most noteworthy of our results, under visible light AM 1.5 illumination (100 mW/cm2) the titania nanotube array photoanodes (1 cm2 area), pore size 110 nm, wall thickness 20 nm, and length 6 μm, generate hydrogen by water photoelectrolysis at a rate of 175 μL/h, with a photoconversion efficiency of 0.6%. The energy–time normalized hydrogen evolution rate is 1.75 mL/h W. The oxygen bubbles evolving from the nanotube array photoanode do not remain on the sample, hence the output remains stable with time irrespective of the duration of hydrogen production.

Visible light photoelectrochemical and water-photoelectrolysis properties of titania nanotube arrays

Scanning electron microscopy micrographs of n‐type silicon carbide (SiC) anodized in HF solution showed a highly porous layer having structures with dimensions of about 50 nm. The capacitance of the porous electrodes revealed a huge surface area. The photocurrent quantum yield of a porous SiC/electrolyte diode is spectacularly enhanced with respect to that of a flat diode for light absorbed in the indirect‐bandgap and for sub‐bandgap light.

M. Plakman

Papers

Enhancement of the light‐to‐current conversion efficiency in an n‐SiC/solution diode by porous etching