Abstract
Surface modifications are often made to titania films to improve its photocatalytic performance in watersplitting. We herein introduced electron beam irradiation to enhance the photocatalytic activities of anelectro-sprayed titania film for solar water splitting application. The film was fabricated by a facile andscalable electrostatic spraying deposition. According to SEM, X-ray diffraction, and Raman data, electronbeam densified the film and improved its crystallinity. Absorbance data indicated that the band gap ofthe E-beam film reduced, which in turn covered the wider range of absorbed light. These modificationsincreased oxygen vacancies or defects, which enhanced mobility and separation of electrons and holes.As a result, the E-beam film exhibited a threefold increase in the photocurrent density, compared to thatof the non-E-beam film. This electrosprayed titania film was used as a photoanode while the referenceand counter electrodes involved in the generation of hydrogen were made of Ag/AgCl and platinum,respectively. The intensity of the UV light illumination used was 1 mW/cm2.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 205-210 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Applied Surface Science |
Volume | 319 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2014 |
Keywords
- Electron beam
- Electrostatic spray deposition
- Thin film
- TiO
- Water splitting
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Chemistry(all)
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Physics and Astronomy(all)
- Surfaces and Interfaces
- Surfaces, Coatings and Films