Abstract
Cost-effective, abundant, and non-toxic SnS nanosheet semiconductors can be used as water-splitting cells. Herein, a photoanode based on high-purity and highly crystalline SnS nanosheets was fabricated. We used sodium thiosulfate (Na2S2O3·5H2O) and stannous chloride (SnCl2·2H2O) as the tin and sulfur source materials, in place of SnCl4 and H2S gas, respectively, which have been used in previous studies. This gas-free fabrication process represents a new, environment-friendly fabrication method that can reduce the manufacturing cost of SnS nanosheets. The fabricated samples were characterized via X-ray diffraction, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, XPS, scanning electron microscopy, and Raman analyses. The XPS result indicated no Sn0 or Sn4+ in the S3 nanosheet; the nanosheet was SnS. These results with XRD show that the SnS nanosheet has high phase purity and crystallinity. Its direct optical band gap is 1.31 eV, and its lattice parameters are similar to those of standard SnS. The SnS nanosheet-based photoanode exhibited a maximum saturation photocurrent of 6.86 mA cm−2 at 0.57 V versus Ag/AgCl, with high stability. The most effective photocurrent for the photocatalytic water-splitting cell is attained with an increase in the surface area and developed electrical conduction. This is attributed to thermal annealing, which eliminates nanoparticle imperfections. This study confirms that SnS nanosheets are excellent candidates for water-splitting applications.
Highlights
IntroductionHuman activities require sustainable energy and environmentally friendly resources; converting solar energy into a storable and usable form is the most ideal approach [1]
Published: 10 February 2021Human activities require sustainable energy and environmentally friendly resources; converting solar energy into a storable and usable form is the most ideal approach [1].This can be achieved by using a semiconductor that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen [2]
In Sample 1 (S1), the intensity of the (120) peak was higher than that of (111), whereas in Sample 2 (S2), (111) is slightly stronger than in Sample 3 (S3), and the (040) was evident in S2 and S3. These results suggest that the compatibility between the SnS nanosheets and the substrate may be different
Summary
Human activities require sustainable energy and environmentally friendly resources; converting solar energy into a storable and usable form is the most ideal approach [1]. This can be achieved by using a semiconductor that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen [2]. Hydrogen produced via water-splitting has emerged as an environmentally friendly fuel for sustainable energy cycles [3]. The technique combines two system parts: solar energy collection and water electrolysis systems [4]. SnS is known to have a tunable energy band gap, depending on the deposition conditions and preparation technique; it can have a narrow band gap, which is crucial for utilizing solar energy [7]. SnS has a large absorption coefficient, normally over 104 cm−1 , and its theoretical solar cell conversion efficiency reaches up to
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