Fabrication of g-C3N4-reinforced CdS nanosphere-decorated TiO2 nanotablet composite material for photocatalytic hydrogen production and dye-sensitized solar cell application

Abstract

Herein, a glib method to produce g-C3N4-reinforced CdS-modified anatase TiO2 is proposed. The CdS spheres broaden the visible region absorption spectrum of TiO2 and improve the charge-transfer mechanism by reinforcing it with g-C3N4. Thus, we aim to improve the photocatalytic efficiency using ternary photocatalyst. Powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy images are accomplished to characterize the components of a ternary composite. Ternary semiconductors possess a better photocatalytic activity in hydrogen production (233 μmol g−12 h−1) than other synthesized semiconductors. DSSCs are fabricated using the prepared electrodes as photoanodes and investigated using current density–voltage, the EQE, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The fabricated DSSC shows the highest overall conversion efficiency of 4.16%, open-circuit voltage of 0.75 V, and short-circuit current density of 10.17 mA/cm2. The heterojunction catalysts formed by semiconductors with matched bandgaps have enhanced photocatalytic ability and better solar cell performance.