Surface modification of titanium dioxide films with gallium oxide nanoparticles for enhanced photoresponse characteristics

Synthesis of Ga2O3-modified TiO2 films was conducted using two methods: (i) sequential electrochemical deposition followed by thermal oxidation, and (ii) simultaneous chemical vapor deposition and thermal oxidation. Morphological, optical, and structural characteristics of these composites were compared with an unmodified TiO2 sample obtained through direct thermal oxidation of titanium foil. Both modification techniques improved TiO2 properties significantly, demonstrating Ga2O3 ' s role in modifying TiO2 structures derived from titanium. EDX, XRD and Raman analyses confirmed the formation of TiO2-Ga2O3 composites, with TiO2 as the dominant compound, showcasing enhanced rutile TiO2 formation and improved crystalline quality. Linear sweep voltammetry measurements revealed enhanced photocurrent densities of 2.29 and 2.48 mAcm- 2, respectively, compared to 1.52 mAcm-2 at 1 V bias, when used as photoanodes in a 0.5 M KOH solution. These findings suggest that Ga2O3-modified TiO2 photoanodes hold promise for solar-driven water splitting.