Photoelectrochemical study of oxygen deficient TiO2 nanowire arrays with CdS quantum dot sensitization.

Oxygen-deficient TiO(2) nanowires show substantially increased donor density due to an increase in oxygen vacancies introduced intentionally by thermal treatment in ammonia, vacuum, or hydrogen. By coupling oxygen-deficient TiO(2) nanowires with CdS quantum dots, a significant enhancement in their photoactivities was observed in the entire wavelength region from 350 to 550 nm. These new nanocomposites hold great promise for solar hydrogen generation.