Photoelectrochemical properties of polypyrrole/TiO2 nanotube arrays nanocomposite under visible light

• Published in: Applied surface science Vol. 258; no. 17; pp. 6627 - 6631
• Main Authors: Jia, Yichao, Xiao, Peng, He, Huichao, Yao, Jianyu, Liu, Feila, Wang, Zhifeng, Li, Yanhong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15.06.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Electropolymerization; Exact sciences and technology; Photoelectrochemical response; Physics; Polypyrrole; TiO2 nanotube arrays; TiO2 nanotube arrays; Photoelectrochemical response; Polypyrrole; Electropolymerization; Inorganic compounds; Transition element compounds; Nanotubes; nanotube arrays; Composite materials; Nanocomposites; TiO; Titanium oxide; Arrays; Nanostructured materials
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2012.03.092

► PPy as sensitizer directly synthesized onto TiO2NTs by potentiostatic method. ► Sensitization effect was evaluated under the visible light illumination. ► Discussed the relationship between sensitization effect and modification amount. ► Sensitization effect was improved under visible light duo to the heterojunction formed. In this study, different amount of polypyrrole (PPy) were electropolymerized on highly ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays (TiO2NTs) anodized by Ti foil in aqueous solution containing fluoride. In order to improve the conductivity of PPy, an anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) was used as doping during electropolymerization. The PPy modified TiO2NTs was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) and UV–vis spectroscopy (UV–vis). The results indicated that there might exist a strong interaction between TiO2NTs and PPy. Photoelectrochemical response showed that PPy/TiO2NTs electropolymerized for 30s presented the maximum IPCE 1.81% under 550nm visible light. The results were ascribed to the presence of narrow band gap p-type conducting polymer semiconductor PPy enhancing visible-light absorption and decreasing the recombination of photo electron–hole result in enhanced photocurrent. These results have implications for the use of PPy/TiO2NTs as a photoswitch or solar cell.