Highly broadband plasmonic Cu film modified Cu2O/TiO2 nanotube arrays for efficient photocatalytic performance

To develop an efficient photocatalyst electrode for solar energy harvesting and photocatalysis application in the visible region, broadband plasmonic Cu film combined with Cu2O/TiO2 nanotube arrays heterojunction (Cu film/Cu2O/TiNT) has been successfully fabricated by anodization combined with electrodeposition method. Interestingly, linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy reveal that the combined consequence of both Cu film and Cu2O in the as-synthesized ternary composite considerably enhances light absorption in the visible spectral. This activity is attributed to the more efficient charge separation/transportation and the presence of Cu film with strong plasmon resonance (SPR) effect. Moreover, the combined effects of both Cu film and Cu2O on TiNT approved highest catalytic current density and highest photocatalytic activity on methylene blue (MB). The efficiency and the rate of MB photodegradation over the Cu film/Cu2O/TiNT were found to be triple compared to TiNT. Within only 30 min of reaction time, the photodegradation of MB reaches nearly 100%. (C) 2019 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.