PHOTOASSISTED DECOMPOSITION OF WATER AT THE GAS-SOLID INTERFACE ON TIO2

The catalytic nature of the now well-documented photoassisted decomposition of water in photoelectrochemical cells seems to be an established fact, at least on several stable anode materials such as TiO2or the alkaline-earth titanates. The amount of gaseous products produced greatly exceeds that which might come from the decomposition (if any) of the surface layers of the electrode. High quantum efficiencies can be achieved and no poisoning of the reaction seems to occur, even after long reaction times. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.