Bacteriorhodopsin/TiO(2) nanotube arrays hybrid system for enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting

TitleBacteriorhodopsin/TiO(2) nanotube arrays hybrid system for enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2011
AuthorsAllam, NK, Yen, CW, Near, RD, EL-Sayed, MA
JournalEnergy & Environmental Science
Volume4
Pagination2909-2914
Date PublishedAug
ISBN Number1754-5692
Accession NumberWOS:000293213600037
Abstract

In recent years, considerable efforts have been made to improve the performance of photoactive nanostructured materials for water splitting applications. Herein, we report on the assembly and use of a bacteriorhodopsin (bR)/TiO(2) nanotube array hybrid electrode system. Photoanode materials composed of similar to 7 mu m long self-ordered and vertically oriented nanotube array of titanium dioxide films were fabricated via the anodization of Ti foil in formamide electrolytes containing NH(4)F at room temperature followed by sensitization of the electrodes with bR. The stability of bR on the TiO(2) surface was found to depend on the pretreatment process of the TiO(2) films. Our results demonstrate the opportunity to fabricate fairly stable bR/TiO(2) hybrid electrodes that can be used as photoanodes for photoelectrochemical water splitting. Under AM 1.5 illumination (100 mW/cm(2)), the hybrid electrodes achieved a photocurrent density of 0.65 mA/cm(2) which is a similar to 50% increase over that measured for pure TiO(2) nanotubes (0.43 mA/cm(2)) fabricated and tested under the same conditions. In the presence of a redox electrolyte, the photocurrent increased to 0.87 mA/cm(2). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the use of bR/TiO(2) hybrid electrodes in photoelectrochemical water oxidation cells. We believe the proton pumping property of bR can be used in a variety of applications, especially those related to third generation photovoltaic cells.

DOI10.1039/c1ee01447a