Spectroscopic determination of flatband potentials for polycrystalline TiO[sub 2] electrodes in mixed solvent systems

Journal Article · Thu Jun 16 04:00:00 EDT 1994 · Journal of Physical Chemistry; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/j100075a023· OSTI ID:6980517

Enright, B; Redmond, G; Fitzmaurice, D ^[1]

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1. University College Dublin (Ireland)

We report studies directed toward a quantitative understanding of the relationship between the flatband potential (V[sub fb]) of a metaloxide semiconductor electrode (titanium dioxide) and the composition of a contiguous electrolyte solution (water, methanol, ethanol, and acetonitrile each containing 0.2 mol dm[sup [minus]3] tetrabutylammonium perchlorate). A relationship between V[sub fb] and the proton-generating ability of the electrolyte solvent, as measured by the autoprotolysis constant of the pure solvent, is demonstrated. Additional studies have examined the dependence of V[sub fb] on the composition of a binary electrolyte solvent mixture (acetonitrile/ethylene carbonate and acetonitrile/water). We conclude that the composition of the acetonitrile/ethylene carbonate mixture at the semiconductor-electrolyte solution interface (SLI) is similar to that of the bulk solution. However, for an acetonitrile/water mixture there is preferential adsorption of water at the SLI. Finally, for aprotic electrolyte solutions, the dependence of V[sub fb] on the electrolytic solute was studied. Cations such as Li[sup +] and Na[sup +] are potential determining. 19 refs., 4 figs., 5 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6980517
• Journal Information: Journal of Physical Chemistry; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Physical Chemistry; (United States) Vol. 98:24; ISSN JPCHAX; ISSN 0022-3654
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
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37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
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ACETONITRILE
ADSORPTION
ALCOHOLS
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHARGED PARTICLES
COMPILED DATA
CRYSTALS
DATA
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRODES
ELECTROPHORESIS
ENERGY
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
ETHANOL
EVALUATION
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
IONS
LITHIUM IONS
MATERIALS
METHANOL
NITRILES
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
POLYCRYSTALS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
SODIUM IONS
SOLAR ENERGY
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SORPTION
STORAGE
TITANIUM COMPOUNDS
TITANIUM OXIDES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
WATER