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Some recent developments in photoelectrochemical water splitting using nanostructured TiO2: a short review

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Abstract

Photoelectrochemical cells with TiO2 electrodes to convert sunlight and water into gaseous hydrogen and oxygen are a source of clean and renewable fuel. Despite their great potential, far-from-ideal performance and poor utilization of the solar spectrum have prevented them from becoming a widespread and practical technology. We review recent experimental work that uses dynamics measurements to study limitations of photoelectrochemical cells from a fundamental level and the use of TiO2 nanotube arrays as a superior alternative to TiO2 nanoparticles. Through a combination of nanoscale size control, doping, composite materials, and the incorporation of noble-metal nanoparticles, improved performance and light harvesting are demonstrated.

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Abbreviations

AM 1.5 G:

Air mass 1.5 global

FDTD:

Finite-difference time-domain

NP:

Nanoparticle

NT:

Nanotube

PEC:

Photoelectrochemical

SPR:

Surface plasmon resonance

TA:

Transient absorption

XPS:

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the financial support of the Office of Basic Energy Sciences of the US Department of Energy under contract number DE-FG02-97ER14799.

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  1. Laser Dynamics Laboratory, Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Atlanta, GA, 303332, USA

    Paul Szymanski & Mostafa A. El-Sayed

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  1. Paul Szymanski
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Correspondence to Mostafa A. El-Sayed.

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Dedicated to Professor Marco Antonio Chaer Nascimento and published as part of the special collection of articles celebrating his 65th birthday.

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Szymanski, P., El-Sayed, M.A. Some recent developments in photoelectrochemical water splitting using nanostructured TiO2: a short review. Theor Chem Acc 131, 1202 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00214-012-1202-2

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