Dual cocatalysts induced photocurrent enhancement of LaTiO2N photoanode

Ag/LaTiO2N photoanode has been fabricated by a simple and cost effective method. Ag is introducing the reduction sites to prevent the facile recombination of electron-hole pairs, before migrating to the surface for photocatalytic reactions. A cobalt-phosphate based oxygen evolution catalyst (Co-Pi, OEC) was electrochemically deposited onto the surface of resultant Ag/LaTiO2N electrode. The crystalline phase, physicochemical properties and morphologies of the products were characterized by UV-vis DRS, XRD and SEM techniques. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance and electron transfer properties of Ag/LaTiO2N and CoPi/Ag/LaTiO2N electrode was measured under a solar simulated (AM 1.5G, 100 mW cm(-2)) light sources. Dual cocatalysts modified electrode surface has shown the remarkable effect and significant increment by ca. twofold of anodic photocurrent. The ferri/ferrocyanide Redox shuttle also shown the electrode-electrolyte interface act as a Schottky junction. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.