Abstract
Abstract Dithiocarbamate complexes [Cd(S2CNCy2)2(py)] (1), [In(S2CNCy2)3]·2py (2) and [Zn(S2CNCy2)2(py)] (3) were synthesized and toluene solution of (1) and (2) was used as dual source precursor for the synthesis of CdIn2S4 (CIS), while that of (1) and (3) was applied for the deposition of Cd7.23Zn2.77S10–ZnS composite (CZS-ZS) thin film photoan-odes by employing single step aerosol assisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD) technique. Deposition experiments were performed at 500°C under an inert ambient of argon gas. The structural properties of deposited films were evaluated by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman spectroscopy. The field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) exposed surface morphologies while UV-Visible spectrophotometry revealed that CIS is low band gap photoanode in comparison to CZS-ZS. The comparison of photoelectrochemical (PEC) responses measured in identical conditions in terms of linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) depicts photocurrent density of 4.4 mA /cm2 and 2.9 mA/cm2 at applied potential of 0.7 V under solar light intensity of 100 mW/cm2 for CIS and CZS-ZS respectively. Further, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) confirms that PEC properties of CIS are superior to CZS-ZS photoanode as the former offer less charge transfer resistance (Rct) 0.03 MΩ in comparison to CZS-ZS having Rct value of 0.06 MΩ.
Highlights
Several different methods such as electrolytic, thermochemical, direct solar water splitting, biological processes and steam methane reforming have been developed for commercial production of hydrogen for utilization as clean energy source (Dou et al, 2019; Kim et al, 2018; Sapountzi et al, 2017; Singh and Wahid, 2015; Thalluri et al, 2020)
In the present work we report the synthesis of CdIn2S4 solid solution and Cd7.23Zn2.77S10 – ZnS composite thin film photoanodes via aerosol assisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD) technique employing dual source toluene solution of dithiocarbamate precursors
Complex 1-3 are soluble in common organic solvents and decomposed before 500°C to stable products. These are employed as dual source precursors in AACVD technique for the deposition of CdIn2S4 solid solution and Cd7.23Zn2.77S10–ZnS composite thin films at 500°C
Summary
Several different methods such as electrolytic, thermochemical, direct solar water splitting, biological processes and steam methane reforming have been developed for commercial production of hydrogen for utilization as clean energy source (Dou et al, 2019; Kim et al, 2018; Sapountzi et al, 2017; Singh and Wahid, 2015; Thalluri et al, 2020). The single metal sulphides such as PbS, CdS and CuS are widely used photocatalysts due to their suitable band gaps which enables them to capture the profuse part of solar light (Cheng et al, 2018; Mamiyev and Balayeva, 2015; Meng et al, 2013) These are susceptible to photo corrosion due to greater redox potential of sulphur than oxygen which greatly limits their utilization as photocatalyst. Cadmium zinc sulphide (CdZnS) with varying amounts of Cd and Zn, is another bimetallic chalcogenide which is widely used as windows in heterojunction solar cells to increase their efficiency (Chu et al, 1991; Hussain et al, 1991; Reddy and Reddy, 1992) It is of great technological curiosity mainly because of tuneable band gap even by small change in Zn contents which allows its usage in short wavelength optoelectronic device, LED’s, laser diodes, photodetectors and memory devices (Lee et al, 2002; Redwan et al, 2003; Wu et al, 1993). The photoelectrochemical studies interms of LSV and EIS indicate effectiveness of fabricated films in PEC and photocatalytic devices
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