BiOI/TiO2nanotube arrays, a unique flake-tube structured p–n junction with remarkable visible-light photoelectrocatalytic performance and stability
- 24 October 2013
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) in Dalton Transactions
- Vol. 43 (4), 1706-1715
- https://doi.org/10.1039/c3dt52394b
Abstract
A series of unique flake-tube structured p–n heterojunctions of BiOI/TiO2 nanotube arrays (TNTAs) were successfully prepared by loading large amounts of BiOI nanoflakes onto both the outer and inner walls of well-separated TiO2 nanotubes using anodization followed by the sequential chemical bath deposition (S-CBD) method. The as-prepared BiOI/TNTAs samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and nitrogen sorption. The photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) activity and stability of the BiOI/TNTAs samples toward degradation of methyl orange (MO) solutions under visible-light irradiation (λ > 420 nm) were evaluated. The visible-light PEC performance of BiOI/TNTAs samples was further confirmed by the transient photocurrent response test. The results from the current study revealed that the 5-BiOI/TNTAs sample exhibited the best PEC activity, favourable stability, and the highest photocurrent density among all the BiOI/TNTAs heterostructured samples. The combined effects of several factors may contribute to the remarkable visible-light PEC performance for the 5-BiOI/TNTAs sample including a 3D connected intertube spacing system and an open tube-mouth structure, strong visible-light absorption by BiOI, the formation of a p–n junction, larger specific surface area, and the impact of the applied external electrostatic field.Keywords
This publication has 71 references indexed in Scilit:
- Enhancement of Photocatalytic Activity of Mesporous TiO2 Powders by Hydrothermal Surface Fluorination TreatmentThe Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2009
- Amphiphilic TiO2Nanotube Arrays: An Actively Controllable Drug Delivery SystemJournal of the American Chemical Society, 2009
- Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on Oriented TiO2 Nanotube Arrays: Transport, Trapping, and Transfer of ElectronsJournal of the American Chemical Society, 2008
- Self‐Organized TiO2 Nanotube Array Sensor for the Determination of Chemical Oxygen DemandAdvanced Materials, 2008
- Self-Organized, Free-Standing TiO2 Nanotube Membrane for Flow-through Photocatalytic ApplicationsNano Letters, 2007
- Preparation and Photocatalytic Wettability Conversion of TiO2-Based Superhydrophobic SurfacesLangmuir, 2006
- Significantly accelerated osteoblast cell growth on aligned TiO2 nanotubesJournal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 2006
- Backside illuminated dye-sensitized solar cells based on titania nanotube array electrodesNanotechnology, 2006
- Unprecedented ultra-high hydrogen gas sensitivity in undoped titania nanotubesNanotechnology, 2005
- Coadsorption of Horseradish Peroxidase with Thionine on TiO2 Nanotubes for BiosensingLangmuir, 2005