International Journal of Engineering and Technology

The photoelectrochemical water splitting for the production of hydrogen was evaluated through the preparation of photoelectrodes of different substrates (glass, aluminium, graphite) with TiO2 film. The film on each substrate was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD). The results show that the TiO2 was deposited in dispersed form and in small clusters on the surface of the substrate and it had no effect on the crystal structure of the semiconductor; furthermore, good adhesion of the films on substrates was obtained except with graphite substrate. The hydrogen production process was carried out using UV light, halogen light and sunlight as photon sources, and it was evaluated by the current flow through the external circuit of the cell. The highest photocurrent values were obtained with the aluminium photoelectrode, averaging 1092.03 uA.