Photoelectrochemical Reactivity of a Hybrid Electrode Composed of Polyoxophosphotungstate Encapsulated in Titania Nanotubes

Abstract A polyoxometalate‐modified titania hybrid electrode with a tailored microstructure is studied for its photoelectrochemical applications. A highly ordered TiO₂ nanotube array is prepared by low‐voltage anodization followed by calcination. Functionalized polyoxophosphotungstate–titania/titanium (POW–TiO₂/Ti) hybrid electrodes are synthesized by encapsulating POW nanoaggregates in the TiO₂ nanotube array. The morphological characteristics and structures of POW–TiO₂ composites are examined by field‐emission scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, and Fourier transform IR spectroscopy. The photoelectrochemical properties of the POW–TiO₂/Ti electrodes are investigated by anodic polarization photocurrent‐response measurements. Photocatalytic/photoelectrocatalytic reactivities of microstructured and nanotubular POW–TiO₂/Ti photoanodes are studied for their use in the degradation of recalcitrant organic pollutants.