Light trapping by porous TiO₂ hollow hemispheres for high efficiency photoelectrochemical water splitting

Photocatalytic water splitting has recently received increasing attention as a green fuel source. The controlled nano-geometry of the photocatalytic material can improve light harvesting. In this study, as a proof of concept, hollow hemisphere (HHS)-based films of TiO₂ material were created by a conventional electrospray method and subsequently applied for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. To preserve the morphology of the HHS structure, a hydrolysis precipitation phase separation method (HPPS) was developed. As a result, the TiO₂ HHS-based thin films presented a maximum PEC water splitting efficiency of ca. 0.31%, almost two times that of the photoanode formed by TiO₂ nanoparticle-based films (P25). The unique morphology and porous structure of the TiO₂ HHSs with reduced charge recombination and improved light absorption are responsible for the enhanced PEC performance. Light scattering by the HHS was demonstrated with total reflection internal fluorescence microscopy (TRIFM), revealing the unique light trapping phenomenon within the HHS cavity. This work paves the way for the rational design of nanostructures for photocatalysis in fields including energy, environment, and organosynthesis.