Photoresponse and AC impedance characterization of TiO2–SiO2 mixed oxide for photocatalytic water decomposition

TiO₂–SiO₂ mixed oxides were prepared by sol–gel processes with one-stage (mix up fully hydrolyzed titania- and silica-sol), two-stage (with pre-hydrolysis) and modified two-stage synthesis routes. The photoresponse and AC impedance characterization of the derived catalysts are studied and correlated for the first time with the photocatalytic activities in water decomposition under UV illumination. Synergistic effects in terms of photocatalytic activity and electronic properties including band-gap energy, flat band potential and doping density were observed on atomically mixing TiO₂ and SiO₂ by the two-stage synthesis route. Meanwhile, the decline of photocurrent density were found on TiO₂–SiO₂ relative to bare TiO₂, which could be attributed to low quality crystalline structure of the former compared to that of the latter. The superior photocatalytic performance of TiO₂–SiO₂ is ascribed to the higher flat band potential, band-gap energy, and doping density than those of bare TiO₂.