Enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting activity of carbon nanotubes@TiO2 nanoribbons in different electrolytes

Hydrogen production from water splitting by a photocatalytic process is one way that can be used to solve global problems related to energy depletion and environmental pollution. This work aims to design and characterize a novel photocatalyst nanohybrid carbon nanotubes@TiO2 nanoribbons (CNTs@TNRs) for enhanced photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting in different electrolytes under visible light irradiance. Here, hydrothermal and chemical vapor deposition (HT-CVD) were combined to grow CNTs @ the nanopits of TNRs producing network of nanohybrid CNTs@TNRs. The structural, morphological, optical, and photocatylatic properties of the TNRs and CNTs@TNRs nanohybrid were characterized by different techniques. The crystallite size is increased from 14.86 nm for TNRs to 21.61 nm for CNTs@TNRs nanohybrid. The CNTs@TNRs nanohybrid has well-resolved nanopits on the surface of the TNRs with an average diameter of 10 nm. The absorption edge of CNTs@TNRs relative to TNRs was strongly shifted to the visible light region. The band gap values are 3.78 and 2.07 eV for TNRs and CNTs@TNRs, respectively. The TNRs and CNTs@TNRs were used for the photocatalytic water splitting under visible light irradiance in Na2S2O3, HCl and KOH electrolytes of different concentrations. The calculated incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) was 97% at 510 nm. These values are higher than those previously reported for different photoelectrodes. The number of hydrogen moles was calculated to be 300 μmol h−1 cm−2. Therefore, our work demonstrates a feasible route for efficient PEC water splitting under sunlight irradiation utilizing the novel CNTs@TNRs photocatalyst. •A novel photocatalyst nanohybrid carbon nanotubes@TiO2 nanoribbons (CNTs@TNRs) is designed and characterized.•The hydrothermal and chemical vapor deposition (HT-CVD) are combined to grow CNTs @ the nanopits of TNRs.•The band gap values are 3.78 and 2.07 eV for TNRs and CNTs@TNRs, respectively.•TNRs and CNTs@TNRs are used for the photocatalytic water splitting under visible light in different electrolytes.•The conversion efficiency reached 97% at 510 nm with H2 evolution rate up to 300 μmol h−1 cm−2.