Electrodeposition Synthesis of Polyaniline-Modified TiO₂ Nanotube Arrays with Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Property

Abstract

Polyaniline-modified TiO₂ nanotube arrays (PANI/TNTs) were fabricated by a constant voltage electropolymerization method. The self-organized TiO₂ nanotube arrays with an inner diameter of approximately 100 nm and a length of 4 μm were prepared by a two-step anodization at 20 V for 3 h, and then the polyaniline was deposited on the surface of the TiO₂ nanotube arrays. The phase composition, morphology and property of PANI/TNTs were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The prepared PANI/TNTs showed enhanced visible light absorption and corresponding visible light photocatalytic activity. Furthermore, the PANI/TNTs also exhibited higher electrochemical behaviour than that of TiO₂ nanotube arrays.

Keywords:

• TiO₂ nanotube array film
• Polyaniline
• Visible photocatalytic activity
• Photoelectrochemical activity