Photoelectrochemical behavior of Pt/TiO2 nanocomposite thin films prepared by pulsed laser deposition

Abstract The Pt/TiO 2 nanocomposite thin films were synthesized on ITO glass substrates by pulsed laser deposition using Nd:YAG laser. Pt/Ti atomic ratios in the deposited films are more strongly dependent on the initial content of Pt in the target than on the laser fluence. From the results of TEM, XPS and XRD analyses, the as-deposited Pt/TiO 2 films are composed of metallic Pt nanoparticles with a diameter of about 30 nm and an amorphous TiO 2 matrix, which are crystallized into the dominant crystal structure of the anatase phase after the heating at 600 °C. The anodic photocurrents of Pt/TiO 2 nanocomposite electrodes were observed not only in UV range, but also in visible light range. Photocurrent in visible region can be attributed to the interfacial states between homogeneously dispersed Pt metal particles and TiO 2 matrix.