Abstract
These studies represent Pt nanoparticle is well dispersed on one-dimensional high aspect ratio TiO2 nanotube arrays surface which is prepared by anodic process. Use Pt/TiO2 nanotube arrays as a photocathode and application in photoelectrochemical reaction for water reduction, to improve photoelectrocatalytic hydrogen generation. For the nature TiO2 nanotube arrays material, adjusting anodic time and calcination temperature to control morphology, crystal phase and surface characterization, and used photoelectrochemical performance to obtain optimal parameter. The optimal TiO2 nanotube arrays with aspect ratio 375 yielded a maximum photocurrent at -0.55 V vs. Ag/AgCl (0 V vs. RHE) in 0.5 M Na2SO4 solution under UV light, this results showed TiO2 nanotube arrays we prepared had a property of water reduction. Decoration of TiO2 nanotube arrays by Pt nanoparticles produced schottky contact on the interface between metal and semiconductor, this mechanism favor to electron transfer from TiO2 to Pt, and current variation on the 0.17 wt% Pt/TNTAs at -0.95 V vs. Ag/AgCl was 10.5 times higher than in TNTAs. In different counter electrode, these result showed the hydrogen production on Pt/TNTAs as a counter electrode was higher than on Pt foil, also indicate Pt/TNTAs was substituted for Pt foil to enhance hydrogen generation rate. In long term reaction, the stability of Pt/TNTAs electrodes was 97 %, it indicated that the electrode materials we prepared were highly stability. Finally, the TNTAs also had high oxidizing power for water, these results showed the multifunctional TNTAs electrode materials had high performance for water splitting, and applied for photoanode and photocathode. These materials had a potential in water splitting cell.