WO3 nanoparticles anchored on titania nanotube films as efficient photoanodes

Tungsten trioxide nanoparticles anchored on titania nanotube arrays (WTiNT) fabricated by a chemical bath deposition technique in combination with a pyrolysis process. The resulting films were characterised by SEM, EDX and XRD. Results showed that the nanomaterials film have the same ordered structure as titania nanotubes. Diffuse reflectance spectra showed an increase in the visible absorption relative to bare titania nanotubes. The tungsten trioxide was successfully anchored on the titania nanotubes, which enhanced the photocatalytic activity of the WTiNT, as indicated by the efficient removal of Rhodamine B and the production of hydrogen. The resultant hybrid nanotubes array showed better photoelectrochemical activity than the bare titania nanotubes (TiNT) under Xe illumination. These WTiNT nanostructured films are promising candidates for practical photochemical reactors that drive useful reactions, such as water reduction (H-2 production) and oxidation of pollutants.