The influence of electrochemical terms on TiO2 nanorod morphology and photoreduction ability

Photoreduction of CO₂ to hydrocarbon needs the urgent development in effective and low-cost technology to mitigate global warming caused by atmospheric CO₂ and other poisonous gas from fossil fuels combustion. In this work, Cu-decorated TiO₂ nanorod films were synthesized by the hydrothermal method followed by electrochemical method with copper ion solution concentration (1-6mmol/L)and potential voltages (-1.6 and -1.2v). A combination of characterization methods XRD, SEM, and UV-Vis DTS, TEM, XPS were used to evaluate the interaction between titania and decorated copper. Their photocatalytic activities were evaluated by the reduction yield of CO₂ under UV irradiation. The methane yield of Cu-TiO₂ showed an obvious increment as a result of localized surface Plasmon (LSP) of Cu particles. These arrays are important for photocatalysis and for the development of the photoreduction of CO₂ on the global warming.