Superlative photoelectrochemical properties of 3D MgCr-LDH nanoparticles influencing towards photoinduced water splitting reactions

Abstract

In the present work, we report the synthesis of single system three-dimensional (3D) open porous structure of MgCr-LDH nanoparticles in a substrate-free path by using one-step formamide assisted hydrothermal reaction followed by visible light irradiation for significant photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties that manifest towards photocatalytic H2 and O2 production. The as-prepared nanostructured materials were characterized by various physico-chemical characterization techniques. Moreover, this unique synthetic approach produces 3D open porous network structure of MgCr-LDH nanoparticles, which were formed by stacking of numerous 2D nanosheets, for effective light harvestation, easy electronic channelization and unveil superlative PEC properties, including high current density (6.9 mA/cm2), small Tafel slope of 82 mV/decade, smallest arc of the Nyquist plot (59.1 Ω cm−2) and photostability of 6000 s for boosting water splitting activity. In addition, such perfectly self-stacked 2D nanosheets in 3D MgCr-LDH possess more surface active defect sites as enriched 50% oxygen vacancy resulting a good contact surface within the structure for effective light absorption along with easy electron and hole separation, which facilitates the adsorption of protons and intermediate for water oxidation. Additionally, the Cr3+ as dopant pull up the electrons from water oxidation intermediates, thereby displaying superior photocatalytic H2 and O2 production activity of 1315 μmol/h and 579 μmol/h, respectively. Therefore, the open 3D morphological aspects of MgCr-LDH nanoparticles with porous network structure and high surface area possess more surface defect sites for electron channelization and identified as distinct novel features of this kind of materials for triggering significant PEC properties, along with robustly enhance the photocatalytic water splitting performances.