Photoelectrochemical cells using metal-decorated carbon nanotube electrodes

作者：Kim Chang Ho; Hwang Sung Sic; Kim Jihun; Yoo Kyung Hwa^*

来源：Current Applied Physics, 2010, 10(1): 153-157.

DOI：10.1016/j.cap.2009.05.011

• Photoelectrochemical cell
• Hydrogen generation from water
• Titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) electrode
• Metal-decorated carbon nanotubes (CNT)

We fabricated the photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells using n-type TiO(2) and metal (Pt, Pd)-decorated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as an anode and a cathode, respectively. Photovoltaic effects were clearly observed. Compared with conventional PEC cell with Pt cathode, a larger photo-voltage was found in the PEC cells with the metal-decorated CNT cathode due to p-type semiconducting properties of CNTs. Additionally, we connected two PEC cells in series to decompose water into oxygen and hydrogen. Indeed, the connected PEC cells yielded the photo-voltage of about 1.35 V, which is larger than 1.23 V required for water splitting. This result demonstrates the possibility of hydrogen generation using the connected PEC cells without an external bias.

• 出版日期2010-1