20.500.12556/RUL-152680 The role of lattice defects on the optical properties of TiO$_2$ nanotube arrays for synergistic water splitting In this study, we report a facile one-step chemical method to synthesize reduced titanium dioxide (TiO$_2$) nanotube arrays (NTAs) with point defects. Treatment with NaBH$_4$ introduces oxygen vacancies (OVs) in the TiO$_2$ lattice. Chemical analysis and optical studies indicate that the OV density can be significantly increased by changing reduction time treatment, leading to higher optical transmission of the TiO$_2$ NTAs and retarded carrier recombination in the photoelectrochemical process. A cathodoluminescence (CL) study of reduced TiO$_2$ (TiO$_{2−x}$) NTAs revealed that OVs contribute significantly to the emission bands in the visible range. It was found that the TiO$_2$ NTAs reduced for a longer duration exhibited a higher concentration of OVs. A typical CL spectrum of TiO$_2$ was deconvoluted to four Gaussian components, assigned to F, F$^+$ , and Ti$^{3+}$ centers. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements were used to support the change in the surface chemical bonding and electronic valence band position in TiO$_2$. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectra confirmed the presence of OVs in the TiO$_{2−x}$ sample. The prepared TiO$_{2−x}$ NTAs show an enhanced photocurrent for water splitting due to pronounced light absorption in the visible region, enhanced electrical conductivity, and improved charge transportation. defects lattices oxides photonics redox reactions true false true Angleški jezik Ni določen Članek v reviji 2023-12-04 11:34:32 2023-12-04 11:34:33 2023-12-05 03:41:06 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2023 0 0 Str. 33255–33265 iss. 37 Vol. 8 2023 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 620.3 2470-1343 10.1021/acsomega.3c00965 165569795 machreki-et-al-2023-the-role-of-lattice-defects-on-the-optical-properties-of-tio2-nanotube-arrays-for-synergistic-water.pdf machreki-et-al-2023-the-role-of-lattice-defects-on-the-optical-properties-of-tio2-nanotube-arrays-for-synergistic-water.pdf 1 3D5E07156C7144D5ECA39924DA48990E 6a78be5209f450b92f40c0d4854e215cd81bc5cf023c2cada4072597e1857758 f670b6a0-9290-11ee-9ca9-0050569b8976 https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=178287 https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsomega.3c00965 0 d1d086c6-9290-11ee-9ca9-0050569b8976 https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=178286 Fakulteta za matematiko in fiziko 0 0 0