Photoelectrochemical properties of Nb-doped titanium dioxide
Anita Trenczek-Zająca, Marta Radeckaa and Mieczysław Rekas, a,
aFaculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGH-University of Science and Technology, al. Mickiewicza 30, Krakow 30-059, Poland Received 21 June 2006; accepted 23 May 2007. Available online 29 May 2007.
Abstract
Nb-doped TiO2 (0–15 at% Nb) polycrystalline specimens were prepared by sol–gel method. The materials were used as photoanode in photoelectrochemical cell to water splitting. Based on the photocurrent experiments, the effects of Nb concentration on incident photon-to-current efficiency (IPCE), flat band potential and overall efficiency of solar energy conversion were discussed. It was found that addition of Nb leads to an increase in solar-to-hydrogen energy efficiency. The maximum energy conversion efficiency has been observed for TiO2 doped with 1 at% Nb.
Keywords: Titanium dioxide; Photoanode; Solar energy conversion; Photoelectrochemistry
