Abstract
The design of highly active and cost-effective photoelectrocatalysts for effective hydrogen generation becomes a mandatory issue due to the demands on sustainable solar fuels. Herein a novel ternary Co–Cd–Fe LDH/PbI2 nanocomposite (T-LDH/PbI2NC) was fabricated by combining strategies of doping and in-situ loading of ternary Co–Cd–Fe LDH. The morphological, structural, and optical properties of PbI2, T-LDH, and T-LDH/PbI2 NC were studied by different techniques. LDH narrows the bandgap of the nanocomposite to 2.53 eV which prolongs the lifetime of the photo-induced electrons. Subsequently, the use of T-LDH/PbI2 NC improves the photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) H2 production rate. T-LDH/PbI2 NC shows a catalytic H2 production rate of 107.53 mmol h−1 cm−2 with IPCE% of 83.8% for 307 nm and 67.3% for 508 nm. The ABPE% reaches its supreme of 4.24% for − 0.58 V and 5.41% for − 0.97 V, these values are the highest values yet for LDH-based photocatalysts. The influences of the operating temperature and monochromatic illumination on the PEC performance were studied. Also, the electrochemical surface area, thermodynamic parameters, and Tafe slopes are calculated to label the hydrogen evolution mechanism. Moreover, the stability and reusability of the T-LDH/PbI2 NC photoelectrode were investigated. This work not only illustrated a simplistic and accessible way to produce a new category of highly efficient photocatalysts compared to the previously reported LDH-based PEC catalysts but also demonstrates a new point of view for improving PEC performance towards industrial water splitting under sunlight irradiation.
Highlights
The design of highly active and cost-effective photoelectrocatalysts for effective hydrogen generation becomes a mandatory issue due to the demands on sustainable solar fuels
We report for the first time a novel photoelectrocatalyst containing (Co–Cd–Fe) Layered double hydroxides (LDH) and PbI2 to form T-LDH/PbI2 nanocomposite
The absorption edge of T-LDH/PbI2 NC is observed in the visible-lightregion, which leads to the reduction of the bandgap energy, Fig. 5
Summary
The design of highly active and cost-effective photoelectrocatalysts for effective hydrogen generation becomes a mandatory issue due to the demands on sustainable solar fuels. Co–Cd–Fe LDH, P bI2, and T-LDH/PbI2 NC photoelectrodes are deposited on the surface of a graphite substrate and used for H2 generation through PEC water splitting. T-LDH/PbI2 NC can efficiently be used as a key material for different solar energy applications including the PEC hydrogen generation.
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