Cadmium selenide-sensitized upright-standing mesoporous zinc oxide nanosheets for efficient photoelectrochemical H2 production

Abstract

Cadmium selenide (CdSe)-sensitized upright-standing mesoporous zinc oxide (ZnO) nanosheets were prepared via a chemical bath deposition followed by annealing and electrochemical deposition of CdSe quantum dots (QDs). The CdSe QDs absorb visible photons under sunlight illumination, promoting electrons from the valence band to the conduction band of CdSe, which then quickly transfer to ZnO followed by the external load to the Pt counter electrode for water reduction. The as-prepared CdSe/ZnO nanosheets show promising photoelectrochemical activities for hydrogen generation.