Hydrogen generation under sunlight by self ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays |
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Authors: | Zhaoyue Liu Batric Pesic Krishnan S. Raja Raghu R. Rangaraju Mano Misra |
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Affiliation: | 1. Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, MS 388, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA;2. Material Science and Engineering, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83944, USA |
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Abstract: | Highly ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays generate a considerable interest for hydrogen generation by an electrochemical photocell, since ordered architecture of nanotube arrays provides a unidirectional electric channel for electron's transport. Here, we report the hydrogen generation by highly ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays under actual sunlight in KOH electrolyte. The two-electrode electrochemical cell included an adjustable anode compartment capable of tracing the trajectory of the sun and a set of alkaline batteries connected with a rheostat for application of external bias. The results showed that the photocurrent responses of nanotube arrays match well with the intensity of solar irradiance on a clear summer day. Addition of ethylene glycol into KOH electrolyte as a hole scavenger enhanced the rate of hydrogen generation. A maximum photocurrent density of 31 mA/cm2 was observed at 13:30 h, by focusing the sunlight with an intensity of 113 mW/cm2 on the surface of the TiO2 nanotube arrays in 1 M KOH electrolyte with 10 vol% ethylene glycol under an applied bias of 0.5 V. The observed hydrogen generation rate was 4.4 mL/h cm2 under the focalized solar irradiance with an intensity between 104 mW/cm2 and 115 mW/cm2 from 10:00 to 14:20 h. |
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Keywords: | Titanium dioxide Nanotube Hydrogen generation Sunlight |
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