Photoelectrochemical properties of iron-cobalt WTiO2 nanotube photoanodes for water splitting and photocathodic protection of stainless steel‏

Photoelectrochemical properties of iron-cobalt WTiO₂ nanotube photoanodes for water splitting and photocathodic protection of stainless steel

Mohamad Mohsen Momeni, Mina Mahvari, Yousef Ghayeb

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelechem.2018.10.035

Abstract

Iron-cobalt WTiO2 nanotube (WTNTs) films deposited on titanium substrate have been applied as photoanodes in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting for hydrogen production and cathodic protection. Anodization process followed by the chemical bath deposition technique has been used to prepare the samples in this work. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Raman spectroscopy has been used to characterize the morphology and structure of the prepared samples. In addition, the cobalt/iron ratio impact on the photocatalytic behavior of the co-deposited WTNTs photoelectrodes in PEC water splitting and cathodic protection has been studied. The best photoelectrochemical (PEC) activity and cathodic protection were shown by the WT2 photoelectrode in comparison with other samples. Moreover, superior photochemical stability was shown by the synthetic samples even after four runs in the photocatalytic test. The photocathodic protection effect and anti-corrosion properties of the samples were evaluated by measuring photo induced open circuit potential, photocurrent density and Tafel curves under visible light. These photoanodes are promising corrosion inhibitors for 403 stainless steel, according to the results.

Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S157266571830701X