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Enhanced photoelectrochemical properties of NiO nanoparticles-decorated TiO2 nanotube arrays for water splitting

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Abstract

Vertically oriented titanium dioxide nanotube arrays (TNTAs) decorated with NiO nanoparticles (NPs) were successfully fabricated using two-step electrochemical anodization. An ultrasound-assisted deposition method was used to homogeneously loading the NiO NPs into the TNTAs, resulting in a NiO/TNTAs junction electrode. X-ray diffraction reveals that the TNTAs and NiO/TNTAs showed anatase structures. Also, SEM images confirm that the nanotubes have a nominal length of 3.57 µm and approximately equal wall thickness and diameters; 55.51 nm and 17.64 nm, respectively. The NiO/TNTAs junction electrode exhibited high visible light photo-response that enhances the photoelectrochemical activity. Accordingly, the incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency of NiO/TNTAs was estimated to be 86.89% in comparison to the pure TNTAs whose efficiency was equal to 29.62%. In conclusion, the NiO/TNTAs junction fabricated by a simple, cost-effective, and applicable cell is a promising clean renewable source for the water-splitting applications.

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Acknowledgements

This work was carried out at the laboratories of the Department of Physics, College of Science, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad - Iraq. Accordingly, the authors express their gratitude due to the supports of this department. Additionally, the authors would like to acknowledge the consultation of Dr. Mustafa Shakir Hashim at the Department of Physics, College of Education, Mustansiriyah University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, College of Science, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq

    Marwah Mohammed Jasim, Osama Abdul Azeez Dakhil & Emad H. Hussein

  2. Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq

    Hussein I. Abdullah

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  1. Marwah Mohammed Jasim
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  2. Osama Abdul Azeez Dakhil
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  3. Emad H. Hussein
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  4. Hussein I. Abdullah
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Correspondence to Emad H. Hussein.

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Jasim, M.M., Dakhil, O.A.A., Hussein, E.H. et al. Enhanced photoelectrochemical properties of NiO nanoparticles-decorated TiO2 nanotube arrays for water splitting. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 31, 10707–10714 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-020-03620-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-020-03620-3

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