Ultrasound-assisted successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction synthesis of Cu2O cubes sensitized TiO2 nanotube arrays for the enhanced photoelectrochemical performance. (March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Qingyao; Sun, Congcong; Liu, Zhiyuan; Tan, Xinying; Zheng, Shixin; Zhang, Han; Wang, Yujie; Gao, Shanmin
• Is Part Of: Materials research bulletin. Volume 111(2019)
• Page Start: 277
• Page End: 283
• Publication Date: 2019-03
• Subjects: TiO2 nanotube arrays -- SILAR -- Cu2O cubes -- Photocatalysts -- Photocurrent; Materials -- Periodicals; Crystal growth -- Periodicals; Matériaux -- Périodiques; Cristaux -- Croissance -- Périodiques; Crystal growth; Materials; Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.materresbull.2018.11.021
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-5408

Abstract

Graphical abstract: The Cu2 O cubes were deposited on the TiO2 nanotube arrays by the ultrasound-assisted SILAR method. The solar photocurrent density of TiO2 NTs/Cu2 O (6) was 1.08 mA/cm 2 and the photovoltage was −0.044 V/cm 2 . The TiO2 NTs/Cu2 O (6) showed the optimal photoelectrocatalytic removal efficiencies of methyl orange, rhodamine B, methyl blue and Cr(VI). Highlights: TiO2 NTs sensitized by Cu2 O cubes were prepared by the ultrasound-assisted SILAR method. The TiO2 NTs/Cu2 O (6) photoelectrode showed the excellent photoelectrochemical properties. The PEC mechanism of TiO2 NTs/Cu2 O (6) photocatalysts was proposed. Abstract: In this paper, Cu2 O cubes with high photoelectrochemical activities were deposited on the surface of TiO2 nanotube arrays by the ultrasound-assisted successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method. The elemental composition and morphology were characterized by XPS and SEM. The TiO2 NTs/Cu2 O showed excellent photoelectric conversion and photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) removal of organic dyes and Cr(VI). The results confirmed that the SILAR deposition cycle greatly influenced the visible light response and PEC properties, and the TiO2 NTs/Cu2 O (6) prepared with 6 SILAR cycles showed the optimal visible light photocurrent (1.08 mA/cm 2 ), visible light photovoltage (−0.044 V/cm 2 ), solar PEC degradation efficiencies of MO (77.62%), RhB (61.83%) and MB (98.30%), and PEC reduction of Cr(VI) (97.16%). The TiO2 NTs/Cu2 O photoelectrodes would show prospective applications in solar cells and waste-water treatment due to the significantly enhanced photoelectrochemical performance.