Photoelectrochemical and Spectroscopic Studies of Colloidal Nano-Particles of Mixed TiO₂/V₂O₅ Metal-Oxide Semiconductors

Kasem K. Kasem, Aubrey Finley, James Folberth, Maarij Syed, Elaine Kirkpatrick

Department of Science, Mathematics, and Informatics, School of Art and Science Indiana University Kokomo, Kokomo, USA.
Rose Hulman Institute of Technology, Terre Haute, USA.

DOI: 10.4236/msa.2012.35039                

Abstract

Due to its importance in hydrogen production during the photolysis process of aqueous suspensions process, mixed TiO₂/V₂O₅ metal-oxide semiconductors were prepared and subjected to crystal structure investigation using X-ray technique. The photoelectrochemical behavior of these TiO₂/V₂O₅ was investigated by photolysis of aqueous suspensions of these oxides containing [Fe(CN)₆]^4-. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the TiO₂ crystallites grow in the (1 0 1) direction, while The V₂O₅ crystallites seem to be growing in the (4 2 0) direction, with increasing concentration of V₂O₅. Photolysis studies show that photochemical activities that maintained the [Fe(CN)₆]^4/[Fe(CN)₆]^3- redox reversibility increased by increasing V₂O₅ up to 50% and then decreased at greater percentages. Aqueous nano systems used in these studies retained their stability as indicated by the reproducibility of their photo-catalytic activities.

Keywords

TiO₂/V₂O₅; Nanoparticles; Semiconductors; Photolysis; Hydrogen Production

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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