INFLUENCE OF TITANIUM SUBOXIDES ON THE PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL EFFICIENCY OF OXIDIZED TITANIUM ELECTRODES.

Pure titanium laminae were oxidized in CO//2 atmosphere between 300 degree C and 700 degree C and used as electrodes in the photodecomposition of water. X-ray diffraction and the method of interference indicators have been exploited to characterize the initial stages of the oxidation of titanium. Metallic interstitial suboxides TiO//0// plus //x are essentially photoinactive but promote the efficiency of an overlaying non-stoichiometric rutile scale.