Flexible TiO2/Au thin films with greatly enhanced photocurrents for photoelectrochemical water splitting

Photocatalysts with high flexibility and stability have become hot spots in material science and energy-related research. In this work, a TiO2/Au bilayer was developed on a flexible mica substrate for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. Due to the high temperature tolerance of mica, anatase TiO2 could be deposited directly on the flexible substrate. By inserting an Au layer, the photocurrent density of the TiO2/Au bilayer was 76 times higher than that of pure TiO2. Moreover, the performance of this bilayer structure has good stability for 500 bending cycles. This study provides a new research direction for the design and manufacture of flexible photoelectrochemical materials. [Display omitted] •Flexible TiO2/Au bilayer was designed and prepared on mica by PLD.•The photocurrent density of the bilayer was 76 times higher than that of pure TiO2.•The performance of the bilayer displays quite good stability under 500 bending cycles.