Abstract
The use of a photo-electrochemical cell (PEC) to produce hydrogen from wastewater is a promising innovation. In this context, this study investigates the impact of a pollutant on the photo-electrochemical properties of sol-gel synthesized TiO2 and TiO2–Co3O4 thin films for hydrogen production in a polluted electrolyte. Combining the photocatalytic properties of TiO2 with the electronic properties of Co3O4 offers an effective solution for achieving effective photo-electrochemical properties in polluted environments. Nevertheless, despite the lowest photocatalytic activity, the hybrid thin film TiO2–Co3O4 with the highest Ti/Co ratio (1:0.5) shows the most promising performance with simultaneous 11.4 μmol cm−2 h−1 H2 production and 12% acid orange 7 degradation after 3 h irradiation under xenon light without the use of any sacrificial agent. This indicates that the electronic conductivity provided by the presence of Co3O4 is a critical property for achieving optimal performance in PEC coupling for hydrogen production and wastewater treatment.
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