Synthesis and photoinduced charge-transfer properties of a ZnFe 2O4-sensitized TiO2 nanotube array electrode
Access Status
Authors
Date
2011Type
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Source Title
ISSN
School
Collection
Abstract
TiO2 nanotube arrays sensitized with ZnFe2O 4 nano-crystals were successfully fabricated by a two-step process of anodization and a vacuum-assistant impregnation method followed by annealing. The sample was studied by an environmental scanning electron microscope, a transmission electron microscope, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, and X-ray diffraction to characterize its morphology and chemical composition. Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectra and a photoelectrochemical measurement approved that the ZnFe2O4 sensitization enhanced the probability of photoinduced charge separation and extended the range of the photoresponse of TiO2 nanotube arrays from the UV to visible region. In addition, the behaviors of photoinduced charge transfer in a TiO2 nanotube array electrode before and after sensitization by ZnFe2O4 nanocrystals were comparatively studied. The photoluminescence of the TiO2 nanotube array electrode became suppressed, and the surface photovoltage responses on the spectrum were significantly enhanced after the introduction of ZnFe2O4 nanocrystals. The transfer dynamics of the photoinduced charges were observed directly by a transient photovoltage measurement, which revealed a fast charge separation at the interface between ZnFe2O4 nanocrystals and TiO2 nanotubes upon light excitation. © 2011 American Chemical Society.
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Hou, Y.; Li, Xin Yong; Zhao, Q.; Quan, X.; Chen, G. (2010)An electrode with intimate and well-aligned ZnFe 2O 4/TiO 2 composite nanotube arrays is prepared via electrochemical anodization of pure titanium foil in fluorine-containing ethylene glycol, followed by a novel cathodic ...
-
Liu, F.; Li, Xin Yong; Zhao, Q.; Hou, Y.; Quan, X.; Chen, G. (2009)Highly ordered ZnFe2O4 nanotube arrays were successfully prepared using porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template from sol-gel solution. The ZnFe2O4 nanotubes are orderly arranged in parallel and each nanotube is composed ...
-
Li, Xin Yong; Hou, Y.; Zhao, Q.; Teng, W.; Hu, X.; Chen, G. (2011)Highly ordered ZnFe2O4 nanotube arrays were successfully prepared by anodic aluminum oxide templates from sol-gel solution. The results from environmental scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy ...