Black TiO2 Nanotubes: Cocatalyst-Free Open-Circuit Hydrogen Generation
Black TiO2 Nanotubes: Cocatalyst-Free Open-Circuit Hydrogen Generation
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DOI:
10.1021/nl500710j
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发表时间:
2014-06-01
期刊:
影响因子:
10.8
通讯作者:
Schmuki, Patrik
中科院分区:
文献类型:
--
作者:
Liu, Ning;Schneider, Christopher;Schmuki, Patrik
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.