Photo corrosion of titania nanotubes within water splitting reaction

Authors

• Shahab Khameneh Asl ¹
• Deniz Unar ²

1. Materials Eng. Department, Mechanical Eng. Faculty, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran, P.O. Box: 5166614766.
2. Chemical Eng. Faculty, Middle East University of Technology, Ankara, Turkey.

Abstract

Titania nanotubes (TNT) prepared by anodization of Ti foils were used for water splitting in a standalone cell. The concentration polarization between the anode side (1M NaOH) and cathode side (0.5 M H₂SO₄) ensured that the water splitting reaction could take place with no external bias and separate H₂ and O₂ evolution could be achieved. The destruction of TNT structures under 365 nm UV irradiation as well as the absence of the stoichiometry between the anodic and cathodic gas collectors indicates the limits of the stability of TNT structures under these conditions.

Keywords

• TiO2
• Photocatalysis
• Solar energy materials
• corrosion
• Instability
• Surfaces