Abstract
Titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) is the material of choice for photocatalytic and electrochemical applications owing to its outstanding physicochemical properties. However, its wide bandgap and relatively low conductivity limit its practical application. Modifying TiO(2) with carbon species is a promising route to overcome these intrinsic complexities. In this work, we propose a facile method to modify TiO(2) nanotubes (NTs) based on the remnant organic electrolyte retained inside the nanotubes after the anodization process, that is, without removing it by immersion in ethanol. Carbon-modified TiO(2) NTs (C-TiO(2) NTs) showed enhanced H(2) evolution in photocatalysis under UV illumination in aqueous solutions. When the C-TiO(2) NTs were subjected to UV light illumination, the carbon underwent modification, resulting in higher measured photocurrents in the tube layers. After UV illumination, the IPCE of the C-TiO(2) NTs was 4.4-fold higher than that of the carbon-free TiO(2) NTs.