THIN TITANIUM-DIOXIDE FILM ELECTRODES PREPARED BY THERMAL-OXIDATION

Effects of temperatures, at which TiO2-x electrodes were prepared by thermal oxidation from titanium sheet metals, as well as platinum loading, on electrochemical and photoelectrochemical properties have been studied and the results are reported. Titanium dioxide electrodes prepared at higher temperatures were found to have slightly more negative flat-band band potentials and significantly higher donor densities than their low temperature counterparts. Platinum loading showed a similar effect to a lesser extent. Improved oxygen reduction kinetics and photoelectrochemical responses were observed at both the electrodes prepared at higher temperatures and platinum loaded TiO2-x electrodes; the oxygen reduction duction was affected by platinum loading more at oxide electrodes prepared at low temperatures than those prepared at high temperatures.