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Hierarchical 3D TiO 2 Nanotube Arrays Sensitized by Graphene Oxide and Zn x Cd y S for High Performance Photoelectrochemical Applications
Author(s) -
Bao Ruiyu,
Geng Junfeng,
Sullivan James A.,
Xia Jianxin,
Wang Wenzhong,
Wong WaiYeung,
Li Hua
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
physica status solidi (a)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.532
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1862-6319
pISSN - 1862-6300
DOI - 10.1002/pssa.201800436
Subject(s) - materials science , photocatalysis , nanotube , anodizing , nanotechnology , graphene , oxide , titanium oxide , substrate (aquarium) , titanium , chemical engineering , calcination , foil method , catalysis , carbon nanotube , composite material , metallurgy , chemistry , aluminium , biochemistry , oceanography , geology , engineering
Photocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis are highly promising for applications in the energy and environment sectors. Several photocatalytic devices based on TiO 2 nanotubes grown on two‐dimensional (2D) substrate (such as titanium foil) have been developed, but there has been little research on three‐dimensional (3D) TiO 2 nanotubes which are expected to offer significantly enlarged surface area and much improved photocatalytic efficiency. Here, a method of building 3D TiO 2 nanotube arrays (3D‐TNTAs) on titanium mesh by anodization via controlling the reaction time and electrolyte is reported. It is found that the electrochemically active area of such a titanium mesh is almost 4 times larger than that of the traditional titanium foil. Moreover, through making composites of graphene oxide and Zn x Cd y S onto 3D TiO 2 nanotubes, hierarchical nanotube arrays (Zn x Cd y S/GO/3D‐TNTAs) are made by calcination‐deposition of graphene oxide followed by a facile successive ionic layer adsorption reaction (SILAR) treatment with Zn x Cd y S. Characterization of the Zn x Cd y S/GO/3D‐TNTAs indicates that this hierarchical multi‐layered nanostructure has a much improved photoelectrochemical property due to the enlarged surface area and improved electron–hole separation capability, demonstrating the great potential for applications in photoelectrocatalytic devices for environmental technologies.