Long‐Term Stability of Light‐Induced Ti3+ Defects in TiO2 Nanotubes for Amplified Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting

• DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202301614
• Publication Date: 2024-02-01T06:26:00Z
• Authors: Ewa Wierzbicka; Ewelina Szaniawsk...; Thorsten Schultz; Amanda O. Basilio; Dariusz Siemiaszko; Kallol Ray; Norbert Koch; Nicola Pinna; Marek Polański
• Keywords: Anodizing; Oxygen evolution; Visible spectrum

Abstract This study shows that the simple approach of keeping anodic TiO 2 nanotubes at 70 °C in ethanol for 1 h results improved photoelectrochemical water splitting activity due to initiation crystallization material amplified by light‐induced formation a Ti 3+ −V o states under UV 365 nm illumination. For first time, are generated when oxygen is present reaction solution and stable contact with air (oxygen) long time (two months). We confirmed here amorphous or nearly structure titania supports survival species oxygen. It also shown treatment substantially improves morphology nanotube arrays, specifically, less surface cracking purification from C‐ F‐based contamination electrolyte used anodizing.