Enhanced Photoelectrocatalytic Performance Using Chalcogenide Te/TiO2/Ti Nanotube Array Based on COD Analyses for Water Treatment Applications

The effect of Te doping of the TiO2/Ti nanotube arrays (NTAs) on the photoelectrochemical chemical oxygen demand (COD) detection has been investigated. It is found that the Te doping has enhanced the photoelectrocatalytic properties of the TiO2/Ti NTAs electrode. This indicated by the linearity, accuracy, and repeatability of measurement of the test compounds chemicals. The Te-TiO2/Ti NTAs shows an excellent linearity to all test compounds up to 10 mu M of concentration. It is only up to 5 mu M in pristine TiO2/Ti NTAs system. In term of accuracy, the Te-TiO2/Ti NTAs electrode can provide the measurement accuracy of up to 100% fit to the theoretical value for all test compound chemical. It is only less than 80% for TiO2/Ti NTAs electrode. Meanwhile, the repeatability of measurement for the electrode, the Te-TiO2/Ti NTAs exhibits 1.8% RSD value, which is lower than the pristine TiO2/Ti NTAs, i.e., 2%. The enhancement of the photoelectrocatalytic properties of the TiO2 by Te doping is due to the lowering of electron and hole recombination during the photoactivation, promoting massive surface reaction with organic compounds and improving the sensing sensitivity. The Te-TiO2/Ti NTAs should find the extensive application of PECOD detection of organic contamination in the environment.

Automated summary

The effect of Te doping on the TiO2/Ti nanotube arrays (NTAs) for photoelectrochemical COD detection was investigated. The Te doping enhanced the photoelectrocatalytic properties of the TiO2/Ti NTAs electrode, as demonstrated by improved linearity, accuracy, and repeatability in measuring test compound chemicals. The Te-TiO2/Ti NTAs electrode exhibited higher linearity up to 10 μM concentration compared to the pristine TiO2/Ti NTAs system (up to 5 μM). It also provided higher accuracy (up to 100% fit to theoretical value) and lower repeatability (1.8% RSD) compared to the TiO2/Ti NTAs electrode (less than 80% accuracy, 2% RSD).