In this work, we grow intrinsically Cu-doped TiO₂ nanotubes (TiNTs) by self-organizing anodization of Ti–Cu binary alloys. We demonstrate that up to a copper concentration of 1.5 at.% in the alloy, self-ordered Cu²⁺-doped nanotubes can be grown. Under UV illumination the Cu²⁺ ion-doped oxide structures can be converted to nanotubes that carry metallic nanoparticles (NPs) uniformly decorated on top of the TiNTs. We investigate the formation of these metallic nanoparticles under UV illumination by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). The resulting intrinsic copper-doped and decorated TiNTs have a strongly enhanced photocatalytic activity for H₂ evolution in comparison to pristine TiNTs. Key is the light-induced conversion of the intrinsic Cu dopant to metallic copper nanoparticles that act as a stable co-catalyst for H₂ generation.

在这项工作中，我们通过自组织阳极化Ti-Cu二元合金来生长本质上是Cu掺杂的TiO ₂纳米管（TiNT）。我们证明，直到合金中的铜浓度达到1.5 at。％，才能生长自定序掺杂Cu ^2+的纳米管。在紫外线照射下，Cu ²⁺离子掺杂的氧化物结构可以转换为纳米管，这些纳米管带有在TiNT顶部均匀装饰的金属纳米颗粒（NP）。我们通过扫描电子显微镜（SEM），X射线光电子能谱（XPS）和电子顺磁共振（EPR）研究了在紫外线照射下这些金属纳米颗粒的形成。所得的本征铜掺杂和修饰的TiNT具有强烈增强的H ₂光催化活性与原始TiNTs相比进化。关键是本征Cu掺杂剂向金属铜纳米颗粒的光诱导转化，该金属铜纳米颗粒可作为生成H ₂的稳定助催化剂。