Fabrication of high-performance CuInSe2 nanocrystals-modified TiO2 NTs for photocatalytic degradation applications

Abstract CuInSe 2 nanocrystals (NCs) were prepared by colloidal synthesis and immobilized onto TiO 2 nanotube arrays (NTs). Photoelectrical properties of the co-sensitized photoelectrode were investigated. The photocatalytic activities were investigated through the photocatalytic degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and anthracene-9-carboxylic acid (9-AnCOOH). The high photoelectrical efficiency is mainly due to the high absorption toward visible light and the decrease in electron–hole pairs recombination. A well maintained opened TiO 2 tube-mouth configuration favors the high photoelectrical efficiency and stability of the CuInSe 2 /TiO 2 NT photoelectrode. The co-sensitized CuInSe 2 /TiO 2 NT photoelectrode displays excellent water splitting ability, 229.35 μM/cm 2 hydrogen gas was achieved in 210 min. The formation of hydroxyl radicals (•OH) on the surface of the CuInSe 2 /TiO 2 NT photoelectrode under visible-light illumination was detected.