In situ modification by graphidyne as interlayer in titanium dioxide thin film / platinum for water splitting photocatalysis

Abstract

Modifying titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) with graphdiyne (Gry) makes that the absorption range of UV-vis-nIR spectrum expands in visible light area. However, in traditional methods, the two materials are combined by hydrothermal process. In this paper, in-situ synthesis, which monomer directly polymerizes on the surface of TiO 2 instead that polymer and TiO 2 combined by hydrothermal method, is employed to get hybrid materials. In the process, TiO 2 thin film was deposited on the glass slide followed by being enfolded in copper (Cu) foil to initiate polymerization and synthesize Gry on the surface of TiO 2 directly. It turns out that with co-catalyst Platinum (Pt) the efficiency of TiO 2 -Gry with introduction of only 1.9 wt% Gry is 12.6% higher than the efficiency of TiO 2 under same test conditions. The improvement is attributed to band structure of the combined material and efficiency of charge transfer. In this system, Gry acts as an excellent medium for charge transfer, which benefits from its intrinsic property and effective contact with TiO 2 by this synthesis. The work points out a new way to get well-combined platelike photocatalyst on transparent substrate. It gives a promising prospect for practical photocatalysis in the future that the quantity and mass ratio of combined materials can be recorded and modified. • Describing a novel morphology of thin film TiO 2 -Gry. • Accomplishing quantitative analysis between performance and additive amount of Gry. • Making adjustable mass ratio of primary material TiO 2 and additive Gry.