Photoelectrochemical activity of CdS/Ag/TiO₂ nanorod composites: Degradation of nitrobenzene coupled with the concomitant production of molecular hydrogen

Abstract

TiO₂ nanorods decorated with CdS and Ag⁰ were prepared and anchored on to a fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) electrode in order to investigate the photoelectrochemical (PEC) oxidation of nitrobenzene (NB) coupled with simultaneous reduction of water to produce molecular hydrogen (H₂). The modified TiO₂ nanorods (TiO₂-NRs) prepared for 4 h have regular nanoroads with high superficial area and Ag nanoparticles loaded on the surface of nanoroads covered with CdS film uniformly. The nano-composite TiO₂-NRs with photochemically active up to 700 nm with coupled photoconversion efficiencies for NB degradation and H₂ production as high as 4.4%. The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect of Ag not only excited the photo-generated electron of Ag nanoparticles, but also promoted the electron transfer from CdS to TiO₂-NRs. NB as a role of electron donor, reacts with hole to improve the efficiency of H₂ production. The heterostructure electrode for solar energy conversion had an important significance for solving environmental pollution and energy crisis.

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