Abstract
In this research, we use a simple and low cost hydrothermal method for producing one dimensional titanium dioxide on FTO substrates. Using titanium tetrachloride or titanium isopropoxide as the precursor heated up with a 10 oC/min heating rate up to 180-200 oC for 2.5-12 hours, we successfully produced one dimensional titanium dioxide rod clusters with an average diameter of 120 nm, and its structure is proven to be rutile via X-ray diffraction. It gives 0.70 mA/cm2 in saturation current density under AM1.5G solar exposure, the applied bias photon effiency reaches 0.59%, and the efficiency retention is maintained at 77.6% after 1 hour operation Also, other compounds containg carbon are decorated onto the surface of the titanium nanorods for enhancing their PEC water splitting performances. For building a heterojunction structure to help electrons transfer to FTO substrate and improving efficiency of titanium dioxide, we decorate some carbon compounds such as glucose, adipic acid and reduced graphene oxide. Good performances are collected by using glucose as the precursor and adipic acid as the decorating carbon material, with a saturation current density up to 1.00 mA/cm2, the applied bias photon effiency reaches 0.70%. Best performances are collected by using reduced graphene oxide as the decorating carbon material, with a saturation current density up to 1.04 mA/cm2, 30% improvement as compared to pure titanium dioxide nanorods. The applied bias photon effiency reaches 0.88%, and the efficiency retention is maintained at 72.5% after 1 hour operation.