Ar+-ion bombardment of TiO2 nanotubes creates co-catalytic effect for photocatalytic open circuit hydrogen evolution

作者：Zhou Xuemei; Liu Ning; Schmuki Patrik^*

来源：Electrochemistry Communications, 2014, 49: 60-64.

DOI：10.1016/j.elecom.2014.09.013

• Argon bombardment
• TiO2 nanotubes
• H2 evolution
• Sub-oxide states
• Photocatalysis

In the present work, extended Argon ion bombardment was used to modify anatase TiO2 nanotube (NT) layers. In situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that a high content of sub-oxide was formed (Ti3+,Ti2+ states) in the nanotube layers. These samples were tested for their ability to show open-circuit photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. We found for UV illumination (cw laser 325 nm) as well as for AM1.5 conditions, a strongly enhanced H-2 evolution activity in the absence of the usual noble metal-nanoparticle decoration. We conclude therefore that these sub-oxide states can play an important role in the activation of TiO2 nanotubes - namely as a H-2 evolution co-catalyst.

• 出版日期2014-12