Photoelectrocatalytic Properties of a Ti-Modified Nanocrystalline Hematite Film Photoanode

Photoelectrocatalytic oxidation of methanol, ethylene glycol, glycerol, and 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2-naphthol on thin-film nanocrystalline hematite electrodes fabricated by electrochemical deposition promoted with spin-coated titanium has been studied. It is shown that the modification transforms it into material exhibiting high activity in photoelectrochemical process substrate upon illumination light visible region spectrum. The highest observed reaction photoelectrocatalytic glycerol. Results intensity-modulated photocurrent spectroscopy (IMPS) suggest effect due to an increased rate charge transfer photoelectro-oxidation efficient suppression recombination generated electron-hole pairs. Therefore, photoanodes based modified are promising for practical application photooxidation a by-product biofuel production, as well degradation other organic pollutants, including those formed during production pharmaceuticals.