Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Activity by Nanostructured V2O5/TiO2 Bilayer.

Hydrogen production by splitting of water using solar means is a renewable alternative and is a need of the hour. The generation of hydrogen is studied using nanostructured V₂O₅/TiO₂ bilayer photoctatalyst synthesized by two different methods. The solution deposition followed by annealing and flame oxidized methods are applied to deposit the nanostructured V₂O₅ onto TiO₂ nanorod arrays. These two methods are compared and studied using X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron energy loss spectrum and photoelectrochemical study. The morphological study provides the optimized surface area of the TiO₂ nanorod arrays. It shows that 0.45 mL tetra butyl titanate at 180C shows the improved surface area. It also differentiates the 3D network as morphology of nanostructured V₂O₅/TiO₂ bilayer photoctatalyst synthesized by flame oxidation method. Electron energy loss spectrum confirms the presence of respective elemental states of V₂O₅/TiO₂ bilayer photoctatalyst. Photoelectrochemical studies show the photocurrent density of 7.89µA/cm2 at 0 V vs Ag/AgCl using flame oxidized nanostructured V₂O₅/TiO₂ nanorod arrays. This study explores the potential of flame oxidized synthesis of nanostructured photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]