Branched hydrogenated TiO2 nanorod arrays for improving photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance under simulated solar light

Two kinds of branched hydrogenated TiO2 nanorod arrays, i.e., hydrogenated TiO2 nanorod supported hydrogenated TiO2 branch arrays (H-BTNRs) and hydrogenated TiO2 nanorod supported unhydrogenated TiO2 branch arrays (B/H-TNRs), have been successfully designed and prepared by a facile approach. Under simulated solar light, the prepared B/H-TNRs have the highest hydrogen evolution rate of 6.65 μmol cm−2 h−1, which is 4.7 and 2.4 times those of hydrogenated TiO2 nanorod arrays (H-TNRs) and H-BTNRs, respectively. This study indicates that the heterostructure design of the unhydrogenated TiO2 branch and hydrogenated TiO2 nanorod promotes the separation of charge carries on the interface and enhances photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.