Effect of Electrolyte Composition on Structural and Photoelectrochemical Properties of Titanium Dioxide Nanotube Arrays Synthesized by Anodization Technique

Abstract

The present work involves studying the effect of electrolyte composition [@1= 0.5 wt.% NH4F / 5% H2O / 5% Glycerol (GLY)/ 90% Ethylene Glycol (EG)] and [ @2= 0.5 wt. % NH4F / 5% H2O / 95% Ethylene Glycol (EG)] on the structural and photoelectrochemical properties of titania nanotubes arrays (TNTAs). TNTAs substrates were successfully carried out via anodization technique and were carried out in 40 V for one hour in different electrolytes (@1, and @2). The properties of physicochemical of TNTAs were distinguished via an X-ray Diffractometer (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), an Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), and UV–visible diffuse reflectance. The photoelectrochemical response of TNTAs was evaluated in 0.01M Na2S under the choppy light of a halogen lamp. TNTAs photoelectrode prepared at @1 electrolyte was not sufficient to increase the photocurrent response compared to TNTAs prepared at @2. The TNTAs photoelectrode prepared in the @2 electrolyte confirmed the highest photoconversion efficiency compared to the TNTAs photoelectrode prepared in the @1 electrolyte.

Keywords

• Electrolyte composition, Glycerol, Photoconversion efficiency, Photoelectrochemical cell, Titania nanotubes