Heterostructured TiO₂ Nanorod@Nanobowl Arrays for Efficient Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting

Abstract

Heterostructured TiO 2 nanorod@nanobowl (NR@NB) arrays consisting of rutile TiO 2 nanorods grown on the inner surface of arrayed anatase TiO 2 nanobowls are designed and fabricated as a new type of photoanodes for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. The unique heterostructures with a hierarchical architecture are readily fabricated by interfacial nanosphere lithography followed by hydrothermal growth. Owing to the two‐dimensionally arrayed structure of anatase nanobowls and the nearly radial alignment of rutile nanorods, the TiO 2 NR@NB arrays provide multiple scattering centers and hence exhibit an enhanced light harvesting ability. Meanwhile, the large surface area of the NR@NB arrays enhances the contact with the electrolyte while the nanorods offer direct pathways for fast electron transfer. Moreover, the rutile/anatase phase junction in the NR@NB heterostructure improves charge separation because of the facilitated electron transfer. Accordingly, the PEC measurements of the TiO 2 NR@NB arrays on the fluoride‐doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate show significantly enhanced photocatalytic properties for water splitting. Under AM1.5G solar light irradiation, the unmodified TiO 2 NR@NB array photoelectrode yields a photocurrent density of 1.24 mA cm –2 at 1.23 V with respect to the reversible hydrogen electrode, which is almost two times higher than that of the TiO 2 nanorods grown directly on the FTO substrate.