Reinforced photoelectrochemical properties of nanostructural TiO2/C/SiO2 integrated on conductive Ti3SiC2

Herein, we constructed an ordered nanoporous embedding nanoparticles composite by anodic oxidation of Ti 3 SiC 2 in fluorine containing organic electrolyte. Compared to anodized Ti which resulted in TiO 2 nanotubes , the anodized Ti 3 SiC 2 (ATSC) led to the formation of nanostructured TiO 2 /C/SiO 2 composite. The morphologies of oxides in the composite also varied with different anodization parameters. The ATSC could be directly used as an electrode without further processes, which possessed a superior structure and composition with a visible-light photocurrent density of 7.56 μA cm −2 , initial reversible area capacity of 6.18 F cm −2 , which were respectively 1.32 and 6.87 times higher than those of the anodized Ti (AT), respectively. The ATSC synthesized by such a feasible fabricating strategy shows favorable photoelectrochemical properties and remarkable stability, and may broaden the bifunctional material prospects of anodized MAX phases.