Hybrid Photoelectrocatalytic TiO<sub>2</sub>-Co<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/Co(OH)<sub>2</sub> Materials Prepared from Bio-Based Surfactants for Water Splitting

oleh: Fanny Duquet, Valérie Flaud, Christina Villeneuve-Faure, Matthieu Rivallin, Florence Rouessac, Stéphanie Roualdès

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2023-11-01

Deskripsi

The development of new photoanode materials for hydrogen production and water treatment is in full progress. In this context, hybrid TiO<sub>2</sub>-Co<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/Co(OH)<sub>2</sub> photoanodes prepared using the sol–gel method using biosurfactants are currently being developed by our group. The combination of TiO<sub>2</sub> with a cobalt-based compound significantly enhances the visible absorption and electrochemical performance of thin films, which is mainly due to an increase in the specific surface area and a decrease in the charge transfer resistance on the surface of the thin films. The formation of these composites allows for a 30-fold increase in the current density when compared to cobalt-free materials, with the best TiO<sub>2</sub>-CoN0.5 sample achieving a current of 1.570 mA.cm<sup>−2</sup> and a theoretical H<sub>2</sub> production rate of 0.3 µmol.min<sup>−1</sup>.cm<sup>−2</sup> under xenon illumination.