Photoelectrochemical studies on TiO2-ZnO composite nanostructure electrodes

The nanostructure electrodes were prepared with composite TiO2-ZnO nanoparticles via the method of homogeneous precipitating by using Ti(SO4)(2) and Zn(NO3)(2). The photoelectrochemical performance of the nanostructure electrodes were studied. The experiment results show that the highest IPCE was obtained with the composite TiO2-ZnO. nanoparticles prepared at n[Ti(SO4)(2)] : n[Zn(NO3)(2)] = 3 : 1 and calcining temperature 530 degrees C. The photoelectrochemical performances of the ITO/TiO2/RuL2 (SCN)(2): 2TBA and ITO/TiO2 + ZnO/RuL2 ( SCN) : 2TBA electrodes were investigated. The highest IPCE was also obtained with the composite TiO2-ZnO nanoparticles prepared at n[Ti(SO4)(2)] : n [Zn(NO3)(2)] = 3 : 1 and calcining temperature 530 degrees C. ITO/TiO2/Poly(3-methythiophene) (PMeT) and ITO/TiO2 + ZnO/PMeT were also studied. The p-n heterojunction existed in ITO/TiO2/PMeT and ITO/TiO2 + ZnO/PMeT, which favored the separation of electron-hole pairs. The ITO/TiO2 + ZnO/PMeT electrode obviously increased the photo-current conversion efficiency by ten times comparing with that of the ITO/TiO2/PMeT electrode.