The influence of electrochemical terms on TiO2 nanorod morphology and photoreduction ability

Abstract

Photoreduction of CO2 to hydrocarbon needs the urgent development in effective and low-cost technology to mitigate global warming caused by atmospheric CO2 and other poisonous gas from fossil fuels combustion. In this work, Cu-decorated TiO2 nanorod films were synthesized by the hydrothermal method followed by electrochemical method with copper ion solution concentration (1-6mmol/L)and potential voltages (-1.6 and -1.2v). A combination of characterization methods XRD, SEM, and UV-Vis DTS, TEM, XPS were used to evaluate the interaction between titania and decorated copper. Their photocatalytic activities were evaluated by the reduction yield of CO2 under UV irradiation. The methane yield of Cu-TiO2 showed an obvious increment as a result of localized surface Plasmon (LSP) of Cu particles. These arrays are important for photocatalysis and for the development of the photoreduction of CO2 on the global warming.