Photochargeability of storage alloy electrode in KOH solution

Strontium titanate thin films doped with niobium have been deposited on nickel substrate by RF magnetron sputtering. After annealing treatment at 300– 600 ∘ C , the LaNi 3.7 Al 1.3 hydrogen storage alloy was deposited on the back of the nickel substrate by DC magnetron sputtering to form an SrTiO 3 / Ni / hydrogen storage alloy (SNH) electrode. The microstructure and morphology of the Nb-doped SrTiO 3 thin films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The photoelectrochemical performances of the annealed SrTiO 3 thin film electrodes were investigated by using a potentiostat/galvanostat apparatus. The photochargeability of the SNH electrodes were measured with a battery program-control test system. The SNH electrodes can be photocharged and discharged. With increasing the annealing temperature of Nb-doped SrTiO 3 thin film, the photocurrent and photochargeability increased. The mechanism of photochargeable behavior of SNH electrode was explained.