Abstract
A facile and effective growing strategy of graphite-like carbon nitride quantum dots (CNQDs) modified on ZnO nanowire array composite electrodes has been successfully designed and prepared for the first time. The remarkable quantum enhanced properties were carefully studied by means of scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscope (XPS), UV-vis diffuse reflectance, PEC performance, and photocatalytic hydrogen production, and the results were in good agreement. Fivefold enhanced photoelectrochemical performances of this novel hierarchical hetero-array prepared in this paper compared with pure ZnO nanowire arrays were obtained under UV-light. The effect was attributed to the remarkable charge separation between CNQDs and ZnO nanowire arrays. Additional investigations revealed that the particular structure of CNQDs/ZnO composites contributed to the separation of a photon-generation carrier and an enhanced photoelectric current. Moreover, the absorption edge of CNQD-modified ZnO nanowire arrays was slightly broadened, and the diameter was reduced as well. The photoelectrochemistry hydrogen evolution splitting water using simulated solar irradiation exhibited the foreground of a possible application of a mechanism of photoelectrochemistry hydrogen evolution over CNQDs/ZnO composite electrodes.
Highlights
The growing environmental problems and energy crisis have been paid an increasing amount of attention
The results show that the zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowire arrays were successfully synthesized and are good agreement with the scanning electron microscope (SEM) results
We investigated the photoelectrochemical properties of the ZnO@carbon nitride quantum dots (CNQDs) composite electrodes with simulated solar irradiation
Summary
The growing environmental problems and energy crisis have been paid an increasing amount of attention. Zinc oxide (ZnO) due to the low initial potential and the ability to quickly transfer electrons to stimulate more people to study it [7,8,9], Lei et al synthesized ZnO quantum dots and was employed to enhance H2 evolution for triazine imide and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3 N4 ) [10]. Chen et al reported that the g-C3 N4 quantum dots (CNQDs) modified TiO2 and significantly enhanced photoelectric performance [29]. Fivefold enhanced photoelectrochemical performances of this novel hierarchical hetero-array prepared in this paper, compared with the pure ZnO nanowire arrays, were obtained under UV-light, and a possible application foreground of photocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen production evolution was exhibited
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
