Black TiO2 Nanotubes: Cocatalyst-Free Open-Circuit Hydrogen Generation

Liu N, Schneider C, Freitag D, Hartmann M, Venkatesan UM, Müller J, Spiecker E, Schmuki P (2014)


Publication Status: Published

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2014

Journal

Publisher: American Chemical Society

Book Volume: 14

Pages Range: 3309-3313

Journal Issue: 6

DOI: 10.1021/nl500710j

Abstract

Here we report that TiO2 nanotube (NT) arrays, converted by a high pressure H-2 treatment to anatase-like "black titania", show a high open-circuit photocatalytic hydrogen production rate without the presence of a cocatalyst. Tubes converted to black titania using classic reduction treatments (e.g., atmospheric pressure H-2/Ar annealing) do not show this effect. The main difference caused by the high H-2 pressure annealing is the resulting room-temperature stable, isolated Ti3+ defect-structure created in the anatase nanotubes, as evident from electron spin resonance (ESR) investigations. This feature, absent for conventional reduction, seems thus to be responsible for activating intrinsic, cocatalytic centers that enable the observed high open-circuit hydrogen generation.

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APA:

Liu, N., Schneider, C., Freitag, D., Hartmann, M., Venkatesan, U.M., Müller, J.,... Schmuki, P. (2014). Black TiO2 Nanotubes: Cocatalyst-Free Open-Circuit Hydrogen Generation. Nano Letters, 14(6), 3309-3313. https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/nl500710j

MLA:

Liu, Ning, et al. "Black TiO2 Nanotubes: Cocatalyst-Free Open-Circuit Hydrogen Generation." Nano Letters 14.6 (2014): 3309-3313.

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