Preparation of Graphene/N-TiO₂ Nanoclusters by One Step Anodic Oxidation for Visible-Light-Driven Hydrogen Production

Abstract:

Titanium dioxide, as a promising photocatalytic material, has been widely used in the fields of environmental pollution control and photocatalytic water splitting to generate hydrogen. In this paper, graphene and N-doping TiO₂ composite film (GR/N-TiO₂) electrode had been grown on titanium foil by one-step anodization, which was simple, time-saving and low cost. The electrode surface was lotusroot-like nanoclusters structure, which had a large specific surface area. The electrode exhibited an excellent optical absorption from ultraviolet to near infrared (200-2500 nm). This was due to the synergistic effects of graphene and N element, and the presence of oxygen vacancy defects. The results showed that the electrode had good electrochemical performances under simulated sunlight, its photocurrent density was about 0.7 mA/cm², the light conversion efficiency was 0.35 %, and the hydrogen production rate was 34 μmol h^-1cm^-2. Thus, the prepared GR/N-TiO₂ film electrode had an excellent hydrogen production activity under sunlight and the potential of converting solar energy into hydrogen energy directly.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volume 913)
• Pages: 786-795
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.913.786
• Online since: February 2018
• Authors: Min Lai, Dong Su, Chang Xin Li, Yan Liu, Yan Zong Zhang*
• Keywords: Graphene, Hydrogen Production, Lotusroot-Like Nanoclusters, Photoconversion Efficiency, Sunlight

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