Two-dimensional ultrathin MoS2-modified black Ti3+-TiO2 nanotubes for enhanced photocatalytic water splitting hydrogen production

Two-dimensional (2D) ultrathin MoS2-modified black Ti3+-TiO2 nanotubes were fabricated using an electrospinning-hydrothermal treatment-reduction method. Bare TiO2 nanotubes were fabricated via electrospinning. Then, 2D MoS2 lamellae were grown on the surface of the nanotubes and Ti3+/O-v ions were introduced by reduction. The photocatalytic performance of the 2D MoS2/Ti3+-TiO2 nanotubes was similar to 15 times better than that of TiO2. The HER enhancement of the MoS2/Ti3+-TiO2 nanotubes can be attributed to the Pt-like behavior of 2D MoS2 and the presence of Ti3+ ions, which facilitated the quick diffusion of the photogenerated electrons to water, reducing the H-2 activation barrier. The presence of O-v, ions in the nanotubes and their hollow structure increased their solar utilization. (C) 2019 Science Press and Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. and Science Press. All rights reserved.