Premium
CdS/Zr:Fe 2 O 3 Nanorod Arrays with Al 2 O 3 Passivation Layer for Photoelectrochemical Solar Hydrogen Generation
Author(s) -
Mahadik Mahadeo A.,
Subramanian Arunprabaharan,
Chung HeeSuk,
Cho Min,
Jang Jum Suk
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201700140
Subject(s) - passivation , nanorod , materials science , photoelectrochemistry , hydrogen production , layer (electronics) , water splitting , hydrogen , chemical engineering , electrochemistry , inorganic chemistry , nanotechnology , chemistry , photocatalysis , electrode , catalysis , biochemistry , engineering , organic chemistry
Abstract CdS‐sensitized 1 D Zr:Fe 2 O 3 nanorod arrays were synthesized on fluorine‐doped tin oxide substrates by a two‐step hydrothermal method. The photoelectrochemical results demonstrate that the current density (4.2 mA cm −2 at 0 V vs. Ag/AgCl) recorded under illumination for the CdS/1 D Zr:Fe 2 O 3 photoanodes is 2.8 time higher than the bare 1 D Zr:Fe 2 O 3 . The extended absorbance spectrum, the reduced recombination, and the effective transport of photogenerated holes in CdS to the electrolyte facilitate enhancement in the photoelectrochemical performance. From X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and TEM observations of the bare and aluminum oxide‐treated CdS/1 D Zr:Fe 2 O 3 photoanodes, we could confirm that the 1 D Zr:Fe 2 O 3 nanorods were covered by the CdS layer and Al 2 O 3 layer present on surface of CdS. Furthermore, the photocurrent and stability of the CdS/1 D Zr:Fe 2 O 3 nanorods was significantly enhanced by Al 2 O 3 compared to bare CdS/1 D Zr:Fe 2 O 3 heterojunction owing to its ability to act as an effective holetransport‐ as well as photocorrosion‐protecting layer. These remarkable enhancements in light‐energy harvesting, improvement in charge transport, and stability directly suggest the usefulness of photoanodes for solar hydrogen generation.