Solar water-splitting using palladium modified tungsten trioxide-titania nanotube photocatalysts

Abstract

Palladium modified tungsten trioxide-titania nanotubes (WOTNs) with different amounts of palladium were prepared by two methods; photo-assisted deposition and one-step electrochemical anodizing method. The resulting samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscope, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer methods. The photocatalytic water splitting was used as a model reaction to evaluate the photocatalytic activity of the obtained samples. The photocatalytic performance was examined under xenon lamp irradiation in 1 M NaOH electrolyte. All palladium modified samples showed photocatalytic properties superior to that for the bare WOTNs sample. The total amount of H2 evolved on the Pd/WOTNs2 sample was 2.5 times higher than that on the bare WOTNs sample. These new photoanodes showed enhanced high photocurrent density with good stability and are highly promising photoanodes for photocatalytic hydrogen production.