Preparação e caracterização de eletrodos de titanatos para aplicação em conversão de energia solar / Preparation and characterization of titanate electrodes for solar energy conversion

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2009

RESUMO

Thin porous films electrodes of titanates H2Ti2O5, H2Ti4O9 and H2Ti8O17 were prepared and investigated. The titanates were synthesized through solid state reactions by heating mixtures of TiO2 and K2CO3; after HCl treatment for ion exchange, the samples were rinsed with water. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy indicated that, depending on the synthesis conditions, different titanates were obtained. Also, precursors were identified, meaning the solid state reaction was not complete. Heating of TiO2:K2CO3 2:1 at 640 °C for 8 hours resulted on the mixture H2Ti2O5/H2Ti4O9, composed by rods (100 nm diameter, 500 nm length) and spherical particles. Rods with the same diameter and 5 mm length were observed for H2Ti4O9 (molar ratio of reagents 4:1, 800 °C for 20 hours). For H2Ti8O17, synthesized from ratio 8:1 at 1100 °C for 4 hours, mainly sheets were observed. Band gap energy was estimated at 3,5 eV for H2Ti2O5/H2Ti4O9 and 3,2 eV for the others titanates. Thin porous films of titanate were deposited on transparent electrodes. In the dark, the electrodes presented low capacitive current and hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions at -0,2V and 1,4V (vs. Ag/AgCl) in Na2SO4 0,1 M aqueous solution; also, the reversibility of redox reaction in K4Fe(CN)6, was observed only at slow scanning rates. Under polychromatic irradiation, the electrodes presented positive photocurrents and negative open circuit potential, a typical behavior of n-type semiconductor. Studies of possible applications for the H2Ti4O9 electrode revealed low activity for phenol photocatalytic degradation. Nevertheless, this electrode showed high adsorption of a ruthenium-based dye, a promising result for application on dye-sensitized solar cells.

ASSUNTO(S)

eletrodo semicondutor semiconductor electrode titanato photoactivity titanate fotoatividade

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