Preparation of carbon coated TiO2 nanotubes film and its catalytic application for H2 generation

Abstract Carbon coated TiO 2 nanotubes (C-TNTs) film was successfully prepared by a two-step process of anodization and gas thermal penetration. The morphologies and structures of C-TNTs films were characterized by SEM, XRD, XPS and Raman spectroscopy. The length and the pore diameter of TiO 2 nanotubes (TNTs) are approximately 300 nm and 60 nm, respectively. The phase compositions of TNTs films were converted from amorphous to crystalline anatase and rutile with increasing heat treatment temperature during the gas thermal penetration. The coated carbon in the C-TNTs films is partly graphitized and the films have a strong photo response in the visible region. The photo catalytic tests show that the C-TNTs films reveal higher photocatalytic activity for splitting Na 2 S + Na 2 SO 3 solution into H 2 , compared with the TNTs film.