Enhanced carbon doping of n-TiO2 thin films for photoelectrochemical water splitting

Enhanced carbon doped n-TiO2 films were synthesized by spray pyrolysis of glucose containing TiCl4 ethanolic solution followed by calcination. Argon was found to be the most effective calcining ambient to enhance the carbon doping of n-TiO2 films. The resultant carbon modified n-TiO2 thin film calcined in Ar at the optimum temperature of 973 K contains 3.8 at% carbon and shows higher photoresponse in both UV and visible region compared to that calcined in air at the optimum temperature of 773 K that contains 2.3 at% carbon. The carbon modified n-TiO2 thin films are stable in the strongly oxidizing environment under illumination. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.