Sains Malaysiana 52(8)(2023): 2407-2418

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2023-5208-17

Composite of Titanium Dioxide Nanotube and Cobalt  Sulfide for Photoelectrochemical Application

(Komposit Nanotiub Titanium Dioksida dan Kobalt Sulfida untuk Aplikasi Fotoelektrokimia)

MUSTAFID AMNA RAMBEY¹, SITI NURUL FALAEIN MORIDON¹, KHUZAIMAH ARIFIN^1,2,*, LORNA JEFFERY MINGGU¹ & MOHAMMAD B. KASSIM^1,3

¹Fuel Cell Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

²Research Center for Advanced Materials, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Building 224, KST BJ Habibie, South Tangerang 15314, Banten, Indonesia

³Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

Received: 16 January 2023/Accepted: 25 July 2023

Abstract

TiO₂ nanotubes (NT) offer several advantages over other geometries for photoelectrochemical (PEC) applications. However, their performance in PEC water-splitting application has remained unsatisfactory due to its wide bandgap. To address this limitation, one approach is the incorporation of other materials as co-catalysts. Hence, in this study, a composite of TiO₂ NT and cobalt sulfide (Co_xS_y) was successfully synthesized, and its potential as a photoelectrode for water molecules splitting was evaluated. The TiO₂ NT was synthesized using electrochemical anodization of Ti foil, followed by annealing at 500 °C. Subsequently, Co_xS_y was added to the TiO₂ NT using hydrothermal method, and the composite was further annealed at 400 °C. Characterization technique, such as FESEM and XRD were employed to identify the morphological and phase structures, while UV-Vis reflectance spectroscopy was used for optical analysis. The efficiency of Co_xS_y deposited on to TiO₂ NT were evaluated by measuring the photocurrent generation. Remarkably, the sample of 60_Co_xS_y/TiO₂ NT exhibited photocurrent as high as 0.375 mA/cm² which is over sixfold higher than the bare TiO₂ NT. The results reported in this study were higher than those reported previously.

Keywords: Anodization; cobalt sulfide; co-catalyst; photocurrent density; TiO₂ NT

Abstrak

TiO₂ nanotiub (NT) menawarkan beberapa kelebihan berbanding geometri lain untuk aplikasi fotoelektrokimia (PEC). Walau bagaimanapun, prestasinya dalam aplikasi pembelahan molekul air PEC masih tidak memuaskan disebabkan sela jalurnya yang luas. Untuk mengatasi kekurangan ini, salah satu pendekatan adalah menambah bahan lain sebagai pemangkin bersama. Oleh itu, dalam kajian ini, komposit TiO₂ NT dan kobalt sulfida (Co_xS_y) telah berjaya sintesis dan keupayaannya sebagai fotoelektrod untuk pembelahan molekul air dinilai. TiO₂ NT disintesis menggunakan kaedah anodisasi foil Ti, diikuti penyepuhlindapkan pada 500 °C. Seterusnya, Co_xS_y ditambah kepada TiO₂ NT menggunakan kaedah hidroterma, diikuti dengan penyepuhlindapan pada 400 °C. Teknik pencirian, seperti FESEM dan XRD digunakan untuk mengenal pasti struktur morfologi dan fasa, manakala spektroskopi pemantulan UV-Vis digunakan untuk analisis optik. Kecekapan pemendapanCo_xS_y ke atas TiO₂ NT dinilai dengan mengukur penjanaan fotoarus. Sampel 60_ Co_xS_y/TiO₂ NT mengeluarkan fotoarus setinggi 0.375 mA/cm² yang lebih enam kali ganda lebih tinggi daripada TiO₂ NT tulen. Hail kajian ini dilaporkan Keputusan yang dilaporkan lebih tinggi daripada  yang dilaporkan sebelum ini.

Kata kunci: Anodisasi; ketumpatan arus foto; kobalt sulfida; pemangkin bersama; TiO₂ NT

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*Corresponding author; email: khuzaim@ukm.edu.my