Photon Absorption Enhancement of TiO2 Nanotube Arrays Decorated with Aluminum Nanoparticles

Abstract

In this thesis, well-aligned TiO2 nanotubes (TNTs) decorated with aluminum nanoparticles have been fabricated by electrochemical anodization and subsequently magnetron sputtering technique. UV-vis spectroscopy analysis indicate that photon absorption spectrum of crystallized TNTs with Aluminum nanoparticles is extended to visible light band with strong absorption (wavelength 400 – 800 nm). Photocurrent characteristics of the TNTs/Al show that the plasmonic nanoparticles Al contribute extra electron-hole pairs to enhance photocurrent under visible light illumination, which further indicate electrons generation, separation and transportation in this system. This thesis gives a systematic study of the subject for photon absorption enhancement of TiO2 nanotube arrays decorated with aluminum nanoparticles.