5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-chlorophenyl)porphyrin decorated TiO2 nanotube arrays: Composite photoelectrodes for visible photocurrent generation and simultaneous degradation of organic pollutant

The composite TiO2 nanotube arrays/5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-chlorophenyl) porphyrin (H2TCIPP-TNTs) photoelectrode with high visible light photoelectrochemical properties was prepared by a facile surface adsorption method. The morphology, composition and optical property of H2TCIPP-TNTs photoelectrode was investigated by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, FT-IR spectra, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The sensitization of H2TCIPP on TNTs significantly extended the visible light response, the as-prepared H2TCIPP-TNTs photoelectrode exhibits excellent photoelectrochemical performance and photocatalytic activity. The photodegradation efficiency of rhodamine B by using H2TCIPP-TNTs irradiated under visible light for 4 h was up to 92.8%, which was higher than that of pure TiO2 nanotube arrays. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.