Publication date: 15th December 2014
In the present work, we show the synthesis of ordered W-doped Ta2O5 nanotube arrays by self- ordering electrochemical anodization of TaW alloys with different tungsten concentrations. After a suitable high temperature ammonia treatment (NH3), the oxide structures were fully converted to W:Ta3N5 tubes. After the nitridation, the overall tubular structure was maintained, but a change in the nanotube wall morphology is observed, that is, the average layer thickness deacreases due to a higher molar density of Ta on Ta3N5 than in Ta2O5. A linear dependency was observed between the W amount added in the alloy and the resulting W concentration in the nanotubes. A main effect found is that W doping can decrease the band gap from 2 eV (bare Ta3N5) down to 1.75 eV. Ta3N5 nanotubes grown on 0.5 at% W alloy and modified with (CoOH)x as co-catalyst show ~33% higher photocurrents in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting than pure Ta3N5.