Ar+-ion Bombardment of TiO2 Nanotubes Creates Co-catalytic Effect for Photocatalytic Open Circuit Hydrogen Evolution

Abstract

In the present work, extended Argon ion bombardment was used to modify anatase TiO2 nanotube (NTs) layers. In situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed a high content of sub-oxide 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 (cw laser 325nm) illumination as well as for AM1.5 conditions, a strongly enhanced H2 evolution activity in 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 H2 evolution co-catalyst.

References in corpus (2)

• One-dimensional Titanium Dioxide Nanomaterials: Nanotubes
• Anodic TiO2 nanotube layers: why does self-organized growth occur - A mini review

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• Stable Co-Catalyst-Free Photocatalytic H2 Evolution From Oxidized Titanium Nitride Nanopowders