Water splitting using a three-dimensional plasmonic photoanode with titanium dioxide nano-tunnels. Issue 10 (10th March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Takakura, Ryohei; Oshikiri, Tomoya; Ueno, Kosei; Shi, Xu; Kondo, Toshiaki; Masuda, Hideki; Misawa, Hiroaki
• Is Part Of: Green chemistry. Volume 19:Issue 10(2017)
• Page Start: 2398
• Page End: 2405
• Publication Date: 2017-03-10
• Subjects: Environmental chemistry -- Industrial applications -- Periodicals; Environmental management -- Periodicals; 660
• DOI: 10.1039/c6gc03217f
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1463-9262

Abstract

Abstract : A three-dimensional plasmonic photoanode using titanium dioxide nano-tunnels loaded with gold nanoparticles for water splitting was developed. Abstract : In this study, we developed a three-dimensional plasmonic photoanode using titanium dioxide nano-tunnels (TNTs) loaded with gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) for water splitting, to enhance the reaction efficiency. We also optimized the procedure of loading Au-NPs on complex three-dimensional structures. We discuss the correlation between the plasmon-induced charge separation obtained from photoelectrochemical measurement and the morphology of Au-NPs observed by transmission electron microscopy. We have successfully deposited well-dispersed Au-NPs on the walls of TNTs using HAu(OH)4 as a precursor. The amount of Au-NPs on the TNTs was estimated to be approximately 15-fold larger than that on the thin film titanium dioxide substrate, and the particle size remained small. Photoelectrochemical water splitting was achieved by using a two-electrode system rather than a three-electrode system. Furthermore, stoichiometric water splitting was confirmed by estimating the amounts of the evolved H2 and O2 gases under visible light irradiation.