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SnS 2 Nanosheets/H‐TiO 2 Nanotube Arrays as a Type II Heterojunctioned Photoanode for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting
Author(s) -
Lin Jianfei,
Liu Yong,
Liu Yongping,
Huang Chen,
Liu Wenhui,
Mi Xihong,
Fan Dayong,
Fan Fengtao,
Lu Huidan,
Chen Xiaobo
Publication year - 2019
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.201802691
Subject(s) - photocurrent , water splitting , heterojunction , materials science , nanotube , substrate (aquarium) , nanotechnology , chemical engineering , photoelectrochemistry , photoelectrochemical cell , electrode , conductivity , photocatalysis , optoelectronics , electrochemistry , carbon nanotube , catalysis , chemistry , electrolyte , biochemistry , oceanography , geology , engineering
Improving the separation efficiency of photogenerated electron–hole pairs and the conductivity of electrons to photoanode substrates are critical to achieve high‐performance photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. Here, a SnS 2 /H‐TiO 2 /Ti heterojunction photoanode was fabricated with SnS 2 nanosheets vertically grown on hydrogen‐treated TiO 2 (H‐TiO 2 ) nanotube arrays on a Ti substrate. It showed a significantly enhanced photocurrent of 4.0 mA cm −2 at 1.4 V (vs. reversible hydrogen electrode) under AM 1.5 G illumination, 70 times higher than that of SnS 2 /TiO 2 /Ti. Kelvin probe force microscopy measurements indicated that photogenerated electrons could be easily transported through the SnS 2 /H‐TiO 2 interface but not through the SnS 2 /TiO 2 interface. Through hydrogen treatment, defects were created in H‐TiO 2 nanotubes to convert type I junctions to type II with SnS 2 nanosheets. As a result, a high efficiency of electron–hole separation at the SnS 2 /H‐TiO 2 interface and a high electron conductivity in H‐TiO 2 nanotubes were achieved and improved PEC performance. These findings show an effective route towards high‐performance photoelectrodes for water splitting.