High Photocurrent Quantum Yields in Short Wavelengths for Nanocrystalline Anatase-Type TiO2 Film Electrodes Compared with Those for Rutile-Type.

Photoelectrochemical activity of nanocrystalline TiO2 film electrodes prepared by use of various TiO2 particles has been studied comparatively. It is confirmed that the photocurrent (or photoactivity) for anatase-type TiO2 is in general higher than that for the rutile-type. The photocurrent quantum yield (ηpc) for anatase-type TiO2 is nearly equal to that for rutile-type in long wavelengths but increases more and more with decreasing wavelength in contrast to the ηpc for rutile-type, and thus the ηpc for anatase-type becomes much higher than the ηpc for rutile-type in short wavelengths around 300 nm, indicating that the high photoactivity for anatase-type TiO2 is due to this high ηpc in short wavelengths. There are some discussions on the reasons for the high ηpc for anatase-type TiO2 in short wavelengths, including the possibility of contribution of hot electrons or holes in the TiO2 film.