Tayloring the Photocatalytical Activity of Anatase TiO₂ Thin Film Electrodes by Three-Dimensional Mesoporosity

Mesoporous titanium dioxide (m-TiO2) thin film electrodes were synthesized by evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA), utilizing a novel type of amphiphilic block copolymer as template. The ordered network of pores shows an accessible inner volume that results in a huge BET-surface and a distinct transparency. According to X-ray diffraction analyses the mesoporous films are highly crystalline after calcination at 550°C. 1D and 2D small-angle X-ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy investigations prove the high quality of the mesopore texture over micrometer-sized areas. These well-defined, crystalline m-TiO2 films show an increased photoactivity for overall water splitting and oxidation of formic acid as compared to porous films prepared in the same manner without a template. The performance of the electrodes was analyzed by measuring the photocurrent and the mass signal of liberated gas by electrochemical mass spectroscopy (EMS). These experiments reveal that film morphology have a great influence to the I-V characteristic of photoelectrodes. An appropriate crystallization temperature is indispensable to obtain an optimum between crystallinity, morphology and photoactivity and to prevent collapse of the mesopore architecture.