Significance of reaction span on the properties of TiO2 nanocones as potent photoanode material

Nanostructured materials have taken the centre stage of materials, thereby providing an upswing for broad range of applications. This is attributable to their note-worthy structural and opto-electronic properties based on their dimensionalities. Concocting nanomaterials for renewable sources of energy and environmental applications is on the go to meet the current energy demand. Recent reports set-forth the sketch of one-dimensional nanostructures suited to be extremely proficient for photovoltaic applications. Among the various metal oxides available, TiO2 contends for its wider band gap, high photo-activity and photo-stability, innocuousness and availability at economy size. Pertaining to the previous reports, it has been understood that 1D nanocones cater towards faster charge transport that corresponds to their anti-reflective property and reduced charge recombination. With this regard, we propose to synthesize TiO2 nanocones using hydrothermal method and compare their crystallographic, morphological and optical properties of the as-synthesized samples by controlling the reaction time. The X-Ray diffraction patterns of the as-synthesized samples are found to be compatible with the standard tetragonal system of rutile TiO2. The UV-DRS analysis revealed the band structure of the samples in the visible region of the spectrum, catching the drift of the band gap in synergy with better electrical conductivity. HRSEM gives an explicit image on the morphology of the synthesized samples with prominent specification on the effect of reaction period on nanocones. Field dependent dark and photoconductive studies revealed elevated carrier transport properties of the samples in accordance to electrical conductivity, thus making a mark on the high-calibre of distinct nanocone structures.