Fabrication and characterization of CdS-sensitized TiO2 nanotube photoelectrode

CdS quantum dot (Qd)-sensitized TiO2 nanotube array photoelectrode is synthesised via a two-step method on tin-doped In2O3-coated (ITO) glass substrate. TiO2 nanotube arrays are prepared in the ethylene glycol electrolyte solution by anodizing titanium films which are deposited on ITO glass substrate by radio frequency sputtering. Then, the CdS Qds are deposited on the nanotubes by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction technique. The resulting nanotube arrays are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV–visible absorption spectroscopy. The length of the obtained nanotubes reaches 1.60 μm and their inner diameter and wall thickness are around 90 and 20 nm, respectively. The XRD results show that the as-prepared TiO2 nanotubes array is amorphous, which are converted to anatase TiO2 after annealed at 450 °C for 2 h. The CdS Qds deposited on the TiO2 nanotubes shift the absorption edge of TiO2 from 388 to 494 nm. The results show that the CdS-sensitized TiO2 nanotubes array film can be used as the photoelectrode for solar cells.