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Directly grown TiO2 nanotubes on carbon nanofibers for photoelectrochemical water splitting

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 May 2016

Hyungkyu Han
Affiliation:
Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Joint Laboratory of Optics and Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacky University, Slechtitelu 11, 783 71 Olomouc, Czech Republic
Stepan Kment
Affiliation:
Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Joint Laboratory of Optics and Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacky University, Slechtitelu 11, 783 71 Olomouc, Czech Republic
Anandarup Goswami
Affiliation:
Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Joint Laboratory of Optics and Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacky University, Slechtitelu 11, 783 71 Olomouc, Czech Republic
Ondrej Haderka
Affiliation:
Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Joint Laboratory of Optics and Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacky University, Slechtitelu 11, 783 71 Olomouc, Czech Republic
Radek Zboril*
Affiliation:
Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Joint Laboratory of Optics and Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacky University, Slechtitelu 11, 783 71 Olomouc, Czech Republic
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Abstract

A variety of Titanium dioxide (TiO2) phases and nanostructures have been explored for their applications in photoelectrochemical cells (PECs) for solar-driven water splitting. In this case, anatase phase and TiO2 nanotubes offer significant advantages especially for PEC-based applications. Though, significant efforts have already been engaged to combine the advantages from both the fields, poor activation and the high electron-hole pair recombination rate of TiO2 electrodes, originating from intrinsic physicochemical properties, limits its practical use. As an alternative, we report directly grown TiO2 nanotubes (synthesized on Fluorine doped Tin Oxide (FTO) via facile electrospinning technique) on carbon nanofibers, using hydrothermal method. The hierarchical branch type configuration has an intimate contact between the TiO2 nanotube and carbon nanofiber backbone and offers higher photocatalytic activity than their respective individual components (namely TiO2 nanotubes and carbon nanostructures).

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Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2016 

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References

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