Facile fabrication of BiVO4 modified TiO2 nanotube film photoanode and its photocathodic protection effect on stainless steel

A BiVO4/TiO2 nanotube composite film was fabricated by anodization and low temperature solvothermal reaction for photocathodic protection. The results showed that after modifying the TiO2 nanotube film with BiVO4 nanoparticles, the light absorption of the BiVO4/TiO2 composite film was extended to the visible region. The photocurrent density of the composite film reached 271 μA cm−2, and was 8.5 times higher than that of the TiO2 film. Under white light irradiation, the composite film made the potential of the coupled 403 stainless steel in a 0.5 M NaCl solution drop by 520 mV, showing an effective photocathodic protection effect.