Applications of surface modification trititanate nanotubes as PEC and hydrogen production device material

Abstract

Herein, we report that self-assembled surface modification of 4-hydroxy thiophenol and gold nanoparticles imparted trititanate nanotubes (TiNTs) with stable, highly efficient hydrogen production and Photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties. After gold nanoparticles decoration, the modified TiNTs exhibited the photocurrent density of 232 [Formula: see text]A/cm2 at 0 V versus Ag/AgCl, with onset potentials ([Formula: see text]) of −0.4 V versus Ag/AgCl. Our process uses 4-hydroxy thiophenol to achieve control over the bond between gold particles and TiNTs, and improves the distribution uniformity of gold nanoparticles on the surface of TiNTs, which leads to above 90% Faradaic efficiency during 3 h water splitting reaction for hydrogen production.