A facile way to prepare visible light driven tin oxide based photoanode and its photoelectrochemical water splitting properties

Abstract

Visible light driven tin oxide based photoelectrodes were obtained using SnCl2·2H2O EtOH solution on FTO by dipping and with further heat treatment in air. Photoelectrochemical measurement with three electrodes configuration under visible light irradiation (λ>420 nm) revealed that this as-prepared photoelectrode showed typical n-type photocurrent effect and the onset potential is negative than that of H+/H2. XRD, UV-Vis spectrum and control experimental results revealed that the visible light driven mechanism for the tin oxide based photoanode maybe ascribed to Sn4+/Sn2+ transformation and the surface oxygen deficiency. © 2012 The Author(s).