A PEDOT-Pt-TiO2 hybrid material synthesized by the casting method for photocatalytic hydrogen generation

This study describes the synthesis and characterisation of a hybrid material consisting of titanium dioxide nanotube arrays (TiO₂ NTs) modified by platinum nanoparticles (Pt-TiO₂ NTs) via radiolysis and a conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) layer, for the first time. The NTs were fabricated by a two-step anodic oxidation process and exhibited different morphologies using electrolyte solutions with different water contents (2–10 vol%). The polymer layer of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) was coated on the Pt-TiO₂ scaffold using the casting method. The PEDOT:PSS-PT-TiO₂ NTs exhibited stability in the photocatalytic process after additional calcination which was carried out to remove the PSS part; the nanotubes with lengths of ∼3 μm exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity (∼4.5 × 10⁻³ μmol cm⁻² of H₂). Additionally, the samples obtained from electrolyte solutions containing 5 and 10 vol% water exhibited nanostructures with the highest catalytic activity.