Fabrication of Cu2O-loaded TiO2 nanotubes with heterojunctions via an electrochemical method: enhanced photocatalytic activity

Abstract

Modified TiO₂ nanotubes (NTs) have been widely used in water splitting for hydrogen evolution owing to their excellent photocatalytic properties. In this study, Cu₂O nanoparticle (NP)-decorated TiO₂ NTs were fabricated via electrochemical deposition, and the effects of Cu₂O NPs on the structure, optical properties, and photocatalytic performance of TiO₂ NTs were investigated. The results revealed that the calculated theoretical hydrogen production on the as-prepared Cu₂O–TiO₂ NTs is 18.19 μmol cm⁻² h⁻¹, and the photoelectric conversion efficiency is 22.08%, which is nearly three times higher than that obtained with pristine TiO₂ NTs. This indicates that the as-prepared n–n heterojunction Cu₂O–TiO₂ NTs are an efficient photocatalytic material for water-splitting hydrogen evolution. This study not only provides a facile and tunable Cu-loading method but also an in-depth understanding of the effect of cocatalysts on the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity of the primary catalyst.