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Codoping titanium dioxide nanowires with tungsten and carbon for enhanced photoelectrochemical performance

Author

Listed:
  • In Sun Cho

    (Stanford University)

  • Chi Hwan Lee

    (Stanford University)

  • Yunzhe Feng

    (Stanford University)

  • Manca Logar

    (Stanford University)

  • Pratap M. Rao

    (Stanford University)

  • Lili Cai

    (Stanford University)

  • Dong Rip Kim

    (Hanyang University)

  • Robert Sinclair

    (Stanford University)

  • Xiaolin Zheng

    (Stanford University)

Abstract

Recent density-functional theory calculations suggest that codoping TiO2 with donor–acceptor pairs is more effective than monodoping for improving photoelectrochemical water-splitting performance because codoping can reduce charge recombination, improve material quality, enhance light absorption and increase solubility limits of dopants. Here we report a novel ex-situ method to codope TiO2 with tungsten and carbon (W, C) by sequentially annealing W-precursor-coated TiO2 nanowires in flame and carbon monoxide gas. The unique advantages of flame annealing are that the high temperature (>1,000 °C) and fast heating rate of flame enable rapid diffusion of W into TiO2 without damaging the nanowire morphology and crystallinity. This is the first experimental demonstration that codoped TiO2:(W, C) nanowires outperform monodoped TiO2:W and TiO2:C and double the saturation photocurrent of undoped TiO2 for photoelectrochemical water splitting. Such significant performance enhancement originates from a greatly improved electrical conductivity and activity for oxygen-evolution reaction due to the synergistic effects of codoping.

Suggested Citation

  • In Sun Cho & Chi Hwan Lee & Yunzhe Feng & Manca Logar & Pratap M. Rao & Lili Cai & Dong Rip Kim & Robert Sinclair & Xiaolin Zheng, 2013. "Codoping titanium dioxide nanowires with tungsten and carbon for enhanced photoelectrochemical performance," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 1-10, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:4:y:2013:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms2729
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2729
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    Cited by:

    1. Pan, Hui, 2016. "Principles on design and fabrication of nanomaterials as photocatalysts for water-splitting," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 584-601.

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