Coupling TiO2nanorods with g-CN using modified physical vapor deposition for efficient photoelectrochemical water oxidation

The core-shell TiO2@g-CN nanorods arrays were constructed directly on fluorine-doped tin oxide grass using vacuum magnetic filtered arc ion plating. The unique structure combines both advantages from TiO(2)as an effective electron-transfer layer and graphic carbon nitride (g-CN) with a proper band gap serving as visible light absorption layer. Under 100 mW/cm(2)(AM 1.5G) light illumination, the optimal TiO2@g-CN produces a photocurrent density of 0.91 mA/cm(2)at 1.23 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode, which is 2.1 times of the bare TiO2(0.43 mA/cm(2)) obtained at the same potential. The improved photoelectrochemical performance is mainly attributed from the improved charge separation and transport within the heterojunction as well as the enhanced light absorption.