Co3O4 modified TiO2 nanotube arrays (TiO2-NTs) were successfully fabricated by electrodeposition and thermal oxidation process. The prepared samples were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopic… Click to show full abstract
Co3O4 modified TiO2 nanotube arrays (TiO2-NTs) were successfully fabricated by electrodeposition and thermal oxidation process. The prepared samples were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopic (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The photoelectrocatalytic properties of as-prepared samples were investigated under visible light and UV-vis light irradiation. Meanwhile, taking methyl orange aqueous solution as target substrate for photoelectrocatalytic degradation experiments, the degradation rate under UV-vis light irradiation and dark condition were evaluated. The prepared Co3O4/TiO2-NTs exhibited much higher photoelectrochemical activity than TiO2-NTs under visible light irradiation and UV-vis light irradiation. The degradation rate of methyl orange on Co3O4/TiO2-NTs electrode reaches 90.7% under applied potential of 1.3 V and UV-vis light irradiation for 10 h, which is only 53.4% on TiO2-NTs electrode. The improved performance could be attributed to the higher photo-generated carrier concentration and carrier mobility.
               
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