Enhanced photoelectrochemical cell property from alpha-Fe2O3 nanoparticle decoration on vertically grown TiO2 nanotubes arrays

J Nanosci Nanotechnol. 2011 Aug;11(8):7290-3. doi: 10.1166/jnn.2011.4784.

Abstract

TiO2 nanotube arrays decorated with alpha-Fe2O3 were prepared by forming a nanotube-like TiO2 film on a Ti sheet using an anodization process, followed by electrochemical deposition to decorate hematite (alpha-Fe2O3) nanoparticles on the TiO2 nanotube arrays. The SEM and XRD results revealed that the alpha-Fe2O3 nanoparticles were homogeneously embedded on the surface of the TiO2 nanotube arrays. The photoelectrochemical properties of the alpha-Fe2O3/TiO2 nanotube arrays as photoanode were studied by photocurrent-potential behavior in 1 M NaOH electrolyte under 100 mW/cm2 UV-Visible light irradiation. Also, the length dependence of TiO2 nanotubes and the amount dependence of alpha-Fe2O3 nanoparticles on the photocatalytic ability were studied and thus the optimum conditions were determined.