Ultrasound-assisted preparation of semiconductor/polymer photoanodes and their photoelectrochemical properties

Shirish Sonawane, Bernaudshaw Neppolian, Boon Teo, Franz Grieser, Muthupandian Ashokkumar

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26 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Metal oxide-loaded poly(butylmethacrylate) films were sonochemically prepared and used as photoanodes in photoelectrochemical cells. A small quantity of polyaniline was added during the latex synthesis to facilitate the transport of charge carriers. The semiconductor metal oxides used in this study were ZnO, TiO2, and Bi2O3/ZrTiO4. The performance of the photoanodes was evaluated by measuring the short-circuit current (Isc) and open-circuit potential (Voc) in four different electrolytes. It was found that photocurrents generated were directly proportional to the amount of metal oxide loading, whereas a decrease in photocurrent was observed with an increase in the thickness of the latex film. At 0.4 g loading, Bi2O3/ZrTiO4 latex showed the highest photocurrent of 0.9 μA/cm2 in aqueous formic acid solution. On the basis of the photocurrents generated, the performance of the three different oxide films is as follows: Bi2O3/ ZrTiO4 ZnO TiO2.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5148-5153
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Physical Chemistry C
Volume114
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 25 Mar 2010
Externally publishedYes

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