Photo corrosion of titania nanotubes within water splitting reaction

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.