Nb doped TiO2 nanotubes for enhanced photoelectrochemical water-splitting

Abstract

Nanostructured titanium dioxide is one of the classic materials for photoelectrochemical water splitting. In the present work we dope TiO 2 nanotube anodes. For this, various low concentration bulk-Nb-doped TiO2 nanotube layers were grown by self-organizing anodization of Ti-Nb alloys. At Nb-contents around 0.1 at%, and after an adequate heat-treatment, a strongly increased and stable photoelectrochemical water-splitting rate is obtained. © 2011 The Royal Society of Chemistry.