Preparation of anatase TiO2 nanowalls using carbon nanowall templating for photoelectrochemical water splitting

We report a fabrication process of TiO2 nanowall (NW) structures using carbon nanowall (CNW) templates. Ti-contained CNW templates were synthesized by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition and sputtering (Ti-target) hybrid system. TiO2 NW structures were then obtained by annealing of the Ti-contained CNW template, which was additionally coated by Ti sputtering, in air. The NW structure could not be retained after annealing of Ti-contained CNW templates without the additional Ti coatings because the amount of Ti in Ti-contained CNWs was not enough to maintain the NW. Using TiO2 NW as a photoanode for water splitting, the photo-response was confirmed by photoelectrochemical measurements.