Facile fabrication of BiVO4 modified TiO2 nanotube film photoanode and its photocathodic protection effect on stainless steel

Abstract A BiVO 4 /TiO 2 nanotube composite film was fabricated by anodization and low temperature solvothermal reaction for photocathodic protection. The results showed that after modifying the TiO 2 nanotube film with BiVO 4 nanoparticles, the light absorption of the BiVO 4 /TiO 2 composite film was extended to the visible region. The photocurrent density of the composite film reached 271 μA cm −2 , and was 8.5 times higher than that of the TiO 2 film. Under white light irradiation, the composite film made the potential of the coupled 403 stainless steel in a 0.5 M NaCl solution drop by 520 mV, showing an effective photocathodic protection effect.