Study of a photostable thin films of TiO2 on titanium

The preparation of supported TiO2 for photocatalytic application in solar cells is an active research field. In the present communication we report the preparation of immobilized TiO2 on metallic titanium for application as a photoelectrode in electrochemical cells as a prior stage for photosplitting of water molecules in hydrogen and oxygen. Films of TiO2 prepared at 300°, 450°, 600°, 700°, 750°, 800° and 900 °C were let to grow on a mirrorlike surface of titanium. The photoelectrochemical answer of these photoelectrodes were analyzed as well as the film prepared under the previous conditions. TDA, TG, XRD and SEM were mainly applied for characterizing the films. Voltametric and chronoamperometric studies were obtained under dark and irradiation conditions under UVA-Visible radiation at controlled room temperature (25 °C). The photoelectrochemical answer is strongly sensitive at the temperature at which the film is prepared on the surface of titanium. The photoelectrochemical answer on a given photoelectrode is reproducible in time, but the best answer is obtained on the TiO2 prepared at 750 °C.