TiO2 nanotubes were sensitized with a Bi2O3 based sol (β–Bi2O3/TiO2–NTs) using the dip–coating technique. The nanotubes were synthesized by electrochemical anodization in a fluoride–containing electrolyte based on ethylene glycol/water. The materials were characterized by FESEM, GIXRD, Raman spectroscopy, voltammetry and Mott-Schottky measurements. The nanotubes were sensitized with 1, 2, 3 and 4 immersion cycles into a diluted Bi2O3 sol and three cycles into a concentrated sol. The nanotubes with three cycles of the diluted sol showed the highest photocurrent as result of accumulation highly oxidant holes in the material and the increase of electron flow in a photoelectrochemical cell. An excess of the sensitizer induced an increase of recombination centers in the nanotubes, decreasing the electron transport efficiency. The β–Bi2O3/TiO2–NTs employed as photoelectrodes exhibited a high activity during the photoelectrocatalytic oxidation of aqueous solutions of 1 M glycerol at pH 1, applying a external potential of 0.85 VAg/AgCl under visible light irradiation (Fig.1), observing a high oxidation percentage about 80 %.

Fabrication of visible-light active β-Bi2O3/TiO2 nanotubes array electrodes for enhanced photoelectrocatalytic glycerol oxidation

251st National Meeting (2016)

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