| Abstract
| - Highly ordered TiO2 nanotube array prepared by a potentiostatic anodization shows a considerable potentialfor improving the transport of the photogenerated electrons in the TiO2 film, since the ordered architecturecan provide a unidirectional electric channel and reduce the grain boundaries. Here, we report on the applicationof highly ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays with different lengths for the photoelectrocatalytic degradation ofphenol. The lengths of the nanotube arrays can be controlled by the electrolyte media, anodization time, orboth. The photoelectrocatalytic activity shows a dependence on the length of the nanotube arrays. Under 3.1mW/cm2 irradiance of ultraviolet light, a short nanotube array shows better photoelectrocatalytic activitythan a long nanotube array, which can be explained by the reduced recombination effects. When comparedwith a P25 TiO2 particulate film with similar thickness and geometric area, the nanotube array shows a strongerattachment to the parent titanium substrate and a better photoelectrocatalytic activity for phenol degradationowing to the improved electron transport and reduced charge recombination. This superior electron transportis further supported by the remarkably enhanced anodic photocurrent response in the degradation of phenol.
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