Decoration of rutile TiO2 nanorod film with g-C3N4/SrTiO3 for efficient photoelectrochemical cathodic protection

A highly efficient g-C3N4/SrTiO3 co-decorated rutile TiO2 nanorod composite film photoanode was fabricated on a conductive glass substrate by a three-step synthesis process involving hydrothermal reactions and chemical vapor deposition. The g-C3N4/SrTiO3/TiO2 composite film with an appropriate cascade energy band structure showed greatly improved visible light absorption and exhibited 4.5 times higher photocurrent density than the undecorated TiO2 film, resulting from its higher separation and transfer efficiency of the photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Under the white light irradiation, the composite film photoanode made the potential of the coupled 403 stainless steel in a 0.5 M NaCl solution decrease by 680 mV from its free corrosion potential, showing a significantly enhanced photoelectrochemical cathodic protection effect.

Automated summary

A highly efficient g-C3N4/SrTiO3 co-decorated rutile TiO2 nanorod composite film photoanode was synthesized on a conductive glass substrate using hydrothermal reactions and chemical vapor deposition. The g-C3N4/SrTiO3/TiO2 composite film demonstrated improved visible light absorption and 4.5 times higher photocurrent density compared to undecorated TiO2 film, attributed to enhanced separation and transfer efficiency of electron-hole pairs. Under white light irradiation, the composite film photoanode exhibited significantly enhanced photoelectrochemical cathodic protection effect by decreasing the potential of coupled 403 stainless steel in 0.5 M NaCl solution by 680 mV from its free corrosion potential.