Photoelectrochemical and Spectroscopic Studies of Colloidal Nano-Particles of Mixed TiO 2 /V 2 O 5 Metal-Oxide Semiconductors

Abstract

Due to its importance in hydrogen production during the photolysis process of aqueous suspensions process, mixed TiO2/V2O5 metal-oxide semiconductors were prepared and subjected to crystal structure investigation using X-ray technique. The photoelectrochemical behavior of these TiO2/V2O5 was investigated by photolysis of aqueous suspensions of these oxides containing [Fe(CN)6]4-. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the TiO2 crystallites grow in the (1 0 1) direction, while The V2O5 crystallites seem to be growing in the (4 2 0) direction, with increasing concentration of V2O5. Photolysis studies show that photochemical activities that maintained the [Fe(CN)6]4/[Fe(CN)6]3- redox reversibility increased by increasing V2O5 up to 50% and then decreased at greater percentages. Aqueous nano systems used in these studies retained their stability as indicated by the reproducibility of their photo-catalytic activities.