This outstanding thesis provides a wide-ranging overview of the growth
of titanium dioxide thin films and its use in photo-electrochemicals
such as water splitting. The context for water splitting is introduced
with the theory of semiconductor-liquid junctions, which are dealt with
in detail. In particular plasmonic enhancement of TiO2 by the
addition of gold nanoparticles is considered in depth, including a
thorough and critical review of the literature, which discusses the
possible mechanisms that may be at work. Plasmonic enhancement is
demonstrated with gold nanoparticles on Nb-doped TiO2. Finally, the use
of temperature and pressure to control the phase and morphology of thin
films grown by pulsed laser deposition is presented.